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THE FOUNDING OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE 

OF NEW YORK, UNDER THE LEGISLATIVE 

ACTS OF 1784 AND 1787. 



By DANIEL J. PRATT, A. M., PH. D., 

Assistant Secretarj' of the Regents of the University. 



From the Proceedings of the University Convocation, held at Albany, N. Y. 
July 6th, 7th and 8th, 187S. 




Annals of Public Education. 197 

[ConUnued from Convocation Proceedings for 1868, 1869, 1872 and 1874.] 

ANMLS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.* 



By Daniel J. Pratt, A. M., Ph. D., 
Assistant Secretary of the Regeuts of the University. 



THE FOUNDING OF THE UNIYEESITT OF THE STATE 
OF NEW YORK, UNDER THE LEGISLATIVE ACTS 
OF 1784 AND 1787. 

His Excellency, Governor George Clinton, in his Message to the 
Legislature, dated New York, 21st January, 1784, called Attention 
to the then recent establishment of the National Independence and 
to the subject of education, in the following terms : 

Gentlemen of the Senate^ and of the Assembly, 

* * * * 

By the Favour of divine Providence, the Seal is put to our Inde- 
pendence, our Liberties are established on the firmest Basis, and 
Freedom in this District seems to derive additional Lustre from the 
Objects which remind us of the Despotism that so lately prevailed. 

* * * '* 

Neglect of the Education of Youth, is among the Evils consequent 
on War. Perhaps there is scarce any Thing more worthy your Atten- 
tion, than the Revival and Encouragement of Seminaries of Learn- 
ing ; and nothing by which we can more satisfactorily express our 
Gratitude to the supreme Being, for his past Favours ; since Piety 
and Virtue are generally the Oflfspring of an enlightened Under- 
standing.' 

V 1:; [In Assembly.] 

January 23d, 1784. 

* * * * 

Mr. Clark," from the Committee of the whole House, on the 
Speech of his Excellency the Governor, reported, that he was 
directed to report to the House, that the Committee had agreed to 
the following Resolutions, to wit, 



* Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1876, by Daniel J. Pratt, in the 
oflfice of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 

• Senate Journal, 1784, pp. 4, 6; Assembly do., pp. 5, 7. * Jeremiah Clark, of 
Orange county. 



198 University Convocation. 

-Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, that a Com- 
mittee be appointed to prepare and bring in a Bill for the Estab- 
lishment of Seminaries and Schools. 



Ordered, That a Bill be prepared and brought in, for the Estab- 
lishment of Seminaries of Learning, and Schools for the Education 
of Youth; and that Mr. K. Harpur,^ Mr. Nicholson' and Mr. 
Gordon,^ do prepare and bring in the same. 



[In Senate.] 

January 26th, 1784. 
* * Mr. Stoutenburgh,* from the Committee [of the Whole], 
reported it as their Opinion, * * That such Part of the Speech 
[Governor's Message] as recommends the Revival and Encourage- 
ment of Seminaries of Learning, be referred to a special Com- 
mittee — * * 

Ordered, That Mr. Duane," Mr. McDougall* and Mr. Morris,'' be 
a Committee for Seminaries of Learning. 



[In Assembly.] 



January 27th, 1784. 



Impressed with the Necessity of * * establishing, reviving 
and encouraging Seminaries of Learning, * * we shall 
sedulously apply ourselves to advance those important Measures, 
convinced that they are intimately blended with the most essential 
Interests of the State.* 



[In Senate.] 

January 28th, 1784. 
* * We acknowledge it to be our Duty, as it will be our 
Pleasure, to encourage Literature as one of the best Means of form- 
ing the Minds of our Youth to Yirtue, and training them up to 
Usefulness.* 



' Robert Harpur, of New York. ' Lewis Morris — all of the Southern 

' John Nicholson, of Ulster county. District. 

' James Gordon, of Albany county. * Reply of Assembly to Gov. Clinton's 

* Isaac Stoutenburgh. Speech. 

^ James Duane. * Answer of the Senate to the Speech 

* Alexander McDougall. of His Excellency, Gov, Clinton. 



Annals of Public Education. 199 

February 19th, 1784. 

4fr * * * 

Mr. Duane moved for Leave to bring in a Bill, for establishing a 
University within this State. 

Ordered, That Leave be given accordingly. 

Mr. Duane accordingly brought in the said Bill, which was read 
the first Time, and ordered a second Reading. 



March 25th, 1784. 



•5t 



The Bill, entitled, " An Act for establishing a University within 
this State," was read a second Time, and committed to a Committee 
of the Whole. 



To the honorable the Legislature of the State of New York. 

The Petition of the Subscribers Governors of the College com- 
monly called Kings College. 

Humbly Sheweth — That the greater Part of the Governors of 
the said College have since the Commencement of the late War 
died ont or departed this State whereby a sufficient number of 
Govei'nors cannot be convened for the carrying on of the Business 
of the said College agreably to its Charter — that many Parts of the 
said Charter are inconsistent with that Liberality and that civil and 
religious Freedom which our present happy Constitution points 
out — and that an Alteration of that Charter in such Points as well 
as an Extension of the Priviliges of the said College so as to render 
it the Mother of an University to be established within this State 
would tend to diffuse Knowlege and extend Literature throughout 
this State. 

Your Petitioners therefore influenced by these Motives humbly 
submit the said Charter to the Revision and Correction of the 
Legislature so as to render it more adequate to these important 
Ends, humbly hoping that your honorable Body will confirm to the 
corporation of Kings College such Estate as was unquestionably 
appropriated to its Use. 

New York 24*'' March 1784. 

Leonard Lispenakd, Geo : Clinton, 

Jno Livingston, Rici> Morris, 

W^ Walton, Ja^ Duane, 

Sam Bayard, Jun', Gerard Bancker, 

Egb^ Benson, 
J : H : Livingston, 
Sam^- Provoost, 
John Rodgers, 
Jn*^ Morin Scott. 



200 University Convocation. 

[Endorsed.] 
To the honorable the Legislature of the State of New York. 

The Petition of the Governors of Kings College praying a 
Revision of their Charter, & that the said College may be erected 
into an University. 

In Senate, March 30*^, 1T84, read and Committed to the whole 
on the -Bill for establishing a TJniversity within this State.' 



March 30th, 1784. 
* * * * 

A Petition of the Governors of King's College, praying a Revi- 
sion of their Charter, and that the said College may be erected 
into an University, was read, and committed to a Committee of 
the Whole, to be taken into Consideration with the Bill " for 
establishing a University within this State." 



April 15th, 1784. 

45- * 4fr * 

The Senate resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, on 
the Bill, entitled, " An Act for establishing an University within 
this State; " after some time spent thereon, the President resumed 
the Chair, and Mr. Williams from the Committee reported, that 
they had made some Progress in the Bill, and that he was directed 
to move for Leave to sit again. 

Ordered^ That Leave be given accordingly. 



April 16th, 1784. 



■if 



Mr. Williams' from the Committee of the Whole, on the Bill, 
entitled, "An Act for establishing an University within this 
State," reported the Proceedings of the Committee to have been 
as follows, viz. 

That upon coming to that Part of the Bill which provides an 

annual Revenue of forty Thousand Bushel of Wheat for the 

University, Mr. Yates moved, that the Words forty Thousand 

Bushel of Wheat be expunged, and a Sum of Money inserted in 

its Stead. Debates arose, and the Question being put thereon, it 

passed in the Negative, in the Manner following, viz. 

* * * * 

[Ayes, 3 : Noes, Itj.] 

' N. T. Leg. Papers (MS.), No. 2, in * John Williams, Eastern District. 
State Library. 



Annals of Public Education. 201 

That Mr. Yates' then moved, that the Committee would rise and 
report it as their Opinion, that the Bill be postponed till the next 
Meeting of the Legislature ; and that the Draft of the Bill be 
published for six Weeks in the public News-papers in this State. 
Debates arose, and the Question being put thereon, it passed in the 
Negative in the Manner following, viz. 

* * * * 

[Ayes, 2 : Noes, 11.] 

Mr, Williams further reported, that they had gone through the 
Bill, made several Amendments and altered the Title, in the 
Words following, viz. " An Act for granting certain Privileges to 
the College heretofore called Kings College, for altering the Name 
and Charter thereof, and erecting an University within this 
State ; " * which Report he read in his Place, and delivered the Bill 
with the Amendments in at the Table, where the same wert) again 
read, and agreed to. 

Ordered, That the Bill be engrossed. 

* * * * 



April 19th, 1784. 



* 



The engrossed Bill, entitled " An Act for granting certain 
Priviliges to the College heretofore called Kings College, for alter- 
ing the Name and Charter thereof, and erecting an University 
within this State," was read a third Time. 

Resolved, That the Bill do pass. 

Ordered, That Mr. Roosevelt' carry the Bill to the Honorable 
the House of Assembly, and request their Concurrence. 



[In Assembly.] 

19th April, 1784. 

w w w Tf 

A Message from the Honorable the Senate, was delivered by Mr. 
Roosevelt, with the Bill therein mentioned, that the Senate have 
passed a Bill, entitled. An Act for granting certain Privileges to 
the College heretofore Tcnown hy the Name of Kings College, for 
altering the Name and Charter thereof, and erecting an University 
within this State, to which they request the Concurrence of this 
House. 

The said Bill was read the first Time, and ordered a second 
Reading. 

•5!r * * * 

'Abraham Yates, jun.. Western Dis- Collection. Further allusion to thi? 

trlct. draft will be made in connection with 

^ The original drsft of this amended the transcript of the bill as finally en- 
bill is preserved among the N. Y. State acted. 

Legislative Papers (MS.), in the N. Y. ^ Isaac Roosevelt, Southern District. 
State Library, being No. 274 of this 

26 



202 University Convocation. 



20th April, 1784. 
* * * * 

The Bill, entitled. An Act for granting certain Privileges [etc., 
as above], was read a second Time and committed to a Committee 
of the whole House. 



A_pril 21 St, 1784. 
* * * * 

Mr. Livingston,' from the Committee of the whole House, on 
the Bill, entitled, An Act for granting certain Privileges [etc., as 
above], reported, that tlic Committee have gone through the Bill 
and made Amendments, which he was directed to report to the 
House ; and he read the Report in his Place, and delivered the Bill 
and Amendments in at the Table, where the same were again read, 
and agreed to by the House. 

The Bill and Amendments were then read a third Time. 

Resolved^ That the Bill and Amendments do pass. 

Ordered, That Mr. Clark, and Mr. W. Harper,* deliver the Bill 
and Amendments to the Honorable the Senate, and inform them 
that this House have passed the Bill, with the Amendments there- 
with delivered. 



[In Senate.] 

April 27th, 1784. 
* * « * 

A Message from the Honorable the House of Assembly (by Mr. 
Clark and Mr. W. Harper) was received with the Bill, entitled, "An 
Act for granting certain Privileges" [etc. as above], informing, that 
thej had passed the Bill with the Amendments therewith delivered. 

Resolved, That this Senate do concur with the Honorable the 
House of Assembly, in their Amendments to the said Bill. 

Ordered, That Mr. Roosevelt carry the Bill to the Honorable the 
House of Assembly, and inform them that the Bill is amended 
accordingly. 



[In Assembly.] 

April 30th, 1784. 
* * * * 

A Message from the Honorable the Senate, was delivered by Mr. 
Roosevelt, with the Bill therein mentioned, that the Senate have 
concurred in the Amendments to the Bill entitled. An Act for 

' James Livingston, of Tryon county. ' William Harper, of Tryon county. 



Annals of Public Education. 203 

granting certain Privileges [etc., as above], and that the Bill is 
amended accordingly. 

The amended Bill being examined ; 

Ordered, That Mr. Cla'i-k and Mr. Lott,' return the said Bill to 
the Honorable the Senate. 

* * * * 



[In Senate.] 



April 30th, 1784. 



•» * * * 

A Message from the Honorable the Honse of Assembly (by- 
Mr. Clark and Mr. Lott) was received, returning the Bill, entitled 
[as above], 

Ordered, That Mr. Schuyler,^ carry the Bill to the Honorable the 
Council of Revision. 



May 1st, 1784. 



* 



A Message from the Honorable the Council of Revision, (by Mr. 
Chief Justice Morris' ) was received and read, That it does not 
appear improper to the Council, that the Bill, entitled, [as above], 
should become a Law of this State. 



An Act for granting certain Privileges to the College heretofore 
called King^s College, for altering the Name and Charter thereof^ 
and erecting an University within this State.* 

Passed May 1, 1784. 

Whereas, by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the late 
Colony of ISTew-York, bearing Date the thirty-first Day of Octo- 
ber, in the twenty-eighth Year of the Reign of George the Second, 
the King of Great-Britain, a certain Body Politic and Corporate, 
was created by the Name of the Governors of the Colledge of the 
Province of New-York, in the City of New-York in America, with 
divers Privileges, Capacities and Immunities, as in and by the said 
Patent will more fully appear. 

' Johannes E. Lott, of Kings county. 

^ Philip Schuyler, Western District. 

2 Richard Morris, of W estchester county. 

* In the original draft of this bill (referred to on a preceding page), the title was 
first written thus : " An act for granting certain new priviledges to the Colledge 
heretofore called King's Colledge, for altering the name and erecting the same 
into an university." The words " new " and " the same into " were erased with a 
pen (perhaps by amendment in committee of the whole). The words " [and] 
Charter thereof " are interlined, the word " an " is changed to " a," and the words 
•' within this State " seem to have been added to the title as first written. 



204 University Convocation. 

And whereas there are many Yacancies in the said Corporation, 
occasioned by the Death or Absence of a great Number of the 
Governors of the said College, whereby the Succession is so greatly 
broke in upon as to require the Interposition of the Legislature. 

And whereas the remaining Governors of the said College, 
desirous to render the same extensively useful, have prayed, that 
the said College may be erected into an University, and that such 
other Alterations may be made in the Charter, or Letters of Incor- 
poration above recited, as may render them more conformable to 
the liberal Principles of the Constitution of this State ; 

I. Be it therefore enacted hy the People of the State of N'ew- 
Yo7'Tc, represented in Senate and Assembly, and it is hereby enacted 
by the Authority of the same, That all the Rights, Privileges and 
Immunities heretofore vested in the Corporation, heretofore known 
by the Name of the Governors of the College of the Province of 
New- York, in the City of New-York, in America, so far as they 
relate to the Capacity of holding or disposing of Property, either 
real or personal, of suing or being sued, of making Laws or Ordi- 
nances for their own Government, or that of their Servants, Pupils 
and others, under their Care, and subject to their Direction, of 
appointing, displacing and paying Stewards, and other inferior Ser- 
vants ; of making, holding and having a common Seal, of altering 
and changing the same at pleasure, be and they hereby are vested 
in the Regents of the University of the State of New- York, who 
are hereby erected into a Corporation or Body Corporate and 
Politic, and enabled to hold, possess and enjoy the above-men- 
tioned Rights, Franchises, Privileges and Immunities, together 
with such others as are contained in this Act, by the Name and 
Stile of the Regents of the University of the State of New- York, 
of whom the Governor, the Lieutenant-Governor,' the President of 
the Senate for the Time being, the Speaker of the Assembly, the 
Mayor of the City of New-York, and the Mayor of the City of 
Albany, the Attorney-General and the Secretary of the State respect- 
ively for the Time being,* be and they hereby are severally con- 
stituted perpetual Regents, in Virtue of their several and respective 
Offices, Places and Stations; and together with other Persons 
herein after named, to the Number of twenty-four,' to wit, Henry 
Brockholst Livingston and Robert Harpur, of the City of New- 

' The words, "the chancellor, the chief justice," were in the original draft, and 
have been erased with a pen ; also, after " the Speaker of the Assembly," the 
words " the judges of the Supreme court." The words, "and the Mayor of the 
City of Albany," " and the Secretary of State," are interlined in the draft. 

5 The words " together with the eldest Rector of Trinity Church, the eldest 
minister of the protestant reformed dutch Church in the City of New York, 
the eldest minister of the Lutheran Church in the s"^ city, the eldest minister of 
the French Church in the said city, and the eldest minister of the presbyterian 
church in the said city for the time being all of them," are erased in the draft. 

' The word " four " is interlined in the draft, and only the first-named person 
from each county is there mentioned. 



Annals of Public Education. 205 

York ; Walter Livingston and Christopher Yates of the County of 
Albany ; Anthony Hoflfman and Cornelius Humfrey, of the County 
of Dutchess ; Lewis Morris and Phillip Pell, jun. of the County 
of "Westchester ; Henry Wisner and John Haring, of the County 
of Orange; Christopher Tappen and James Clinton, of the 
County of Ulster; Christopher P. Yates and James Living- 
ston, of the County of Montgomery ; Abraham Bancker and 
John C. Dongan, of the County of Richmond ; Matthew 
Clarkson and Rutger Yan Brunt, of the County of Kings ; James 
Townsend and Thomas Lawrence, of the County of Queens ; Ezra 
L'Bommedieu and Caleb Smith, of the County of Suffolk ; and 
John Williams and John McCrea, of the County of Washington, 
be and they hereby are appointed Regents of the said University, 
and it shall and may be lawful to and for the Clergy, of the respect- 
ive religious Denominations in this State, to meet at such Time 
and Place as they shall deem proper after the passing of this Act, 
and being so met, shall by a Majority of Voices of those who shall 
80 meet, choose and appoint one of their Body to be a Regent in 
the said University ; and in Case of Death or Resignation, to choose 
and appoint another in the same Manner ; and the Regent, so cliosen 
and appointed, shall have the like Powers as any other Regent, 
appointed or to be appointed by Virtue of this Act.* 

And to the End, that a Succession of Regents be perpetually 
kept up ; 

II. Be it further enacted hy the Authority aforesaid, That 
whenever and so often as one or more of the Regents of the said 
University, not being such in Virtue of his or their Office, Place 
or Station, shall remove his or their Place of Residence from within 
this State, shall resign or die, that the Place or Places of such 
Regent or Regents so removing, resigning or dying, shall be filled 
up by the Governor or Person administering the Government of 
the State for the Time being, by and with the Advice and Consent 
of the Council of Appointment, so that such Appointments be of 
Persons resident in the Counties respectively wherein the former 
Regents did reside, other than where such Vacancy may happen, of 
a Regent appointed by the Clergy as aforesaid. 

III. And he it further enacted hy the Authority aforesaid, 
That as soon as may be after the passing of this Act, the Regents 
of the said University shall by plurality of Voices, choose a Chan- 
cellor, a Vice-Chancellor, a Treasurer and a Secretary" from among 
the said Regents ; the said Chancellor, or in his Absence the Vice- 
Chancellor to preside at all Elections and other Meetings to be held 
by the said Regents ; and to have the casting Vote upon every 
Division : 

' This clause relative to the appointment of Regents by the Clergy, appears as 
an amendment to the original draft. 

* The words, " and a president for the College heretofore called Kings College, 
but which shall " were written in the original draft, but seem to have been erased 
by the framer of the section, before the subsequent lines were written. 



206 University Convocation. 

And for the well ordering and directing of the said Corporation ; 

IV. Be it further enacted hy the Authority aforesaid, That the 
Regents of the said University, or a Majority of them, shall be, 
and hereby are vested with full Power and Authority to ordain and 
make Ordinances and By-Laws for the Government of the several 
Colleges which may or shall compose the said University ; and the 
several Presidents, Professors, Tutors, Fellows, Pupils and Servants 
thereof; and for the Management of such Estate as they may and 
shall be invested with ; that they shall have full Power and Author- 
ity to determine the Salaries of the Officers and Servants of the 
said College ; to remove from Office any such President, Professor, 
Tutor, Fellow or Servant as they conceive, after a full hearing, to 
have abused their Trust, or to be incompetent thereto. 

Provided nevertheless, That no Fine to be levied by Yirtue of the 
said Laws or Ordinances shall exceed the Yalue of one Bushel of 
Wheat for any one Offence, and that no Pupil or Student shall be 
suspended for a longer Term than twenty Days, or be resticated * 
or expelled, but upon a fair and full Hearing of the Parties by the 
Chancellor or Vice-Chancellor of the said University, and at least 
ten of the Regents not being President or Professors of the Col- 
lege to which the Person accused belongs, or under whose immedi- 
ate directions the same may be, and the said Regents are hereby 
further empowered and directed as soon as may be, to elect a Presi- 
dent and Professors for the College heretofore called Kings- College, 
which President shall continue in Place during the pleasure of the 
Regents of the University : And that from and after the first Elec- 
tion, the said President and all future Presidents shall be elected 
from out of the Professors of the several Colleges that may or shall 
compose the said University ; and that no Professor shall be in any 
Wise whatsoever accounted intelligible,' for, or by Reason of any 
religious Tenet or Tenets, that he may or shall profess or be com- 
pelled by any By-Law or otherwise to take any religious Test-Oath 
whatsoever. 

And to the End that the Intention of the Donors and Benefactors 
of the said before-mentioned College be not defeated ; 

Y. Be it further enacted hy the Authority aforesaid, That all 
the Estate, whether real or personal, which the said Governors of the 
Corporation of Kings- College held by Yirtue of the said before 
mentioned Charter, be held and possessed by the said Regents, 
and applied solely to the Use of the said College ; and that the 
said Regents may, and they hereby are empowered to receive and 
hold for the Use of the said College an Estate of the annual Yalue 
of Three Thousand and Five Hundred Pounds, in Manner specifyed 
in the said first above recited Charter or Letters Patent of Incorpo- 
ration. 

' So in the original act, but not in the " draft " above referred to. 



Annals of Public Education. 207 

And for the further Promotion of Learning and the Extension of 
Literature ; 

YL Beit further enacted hy the Atithority aforesaid, That the 
said Kegents may hold and possess Estates real and personal to the 
annual Amount of forty thousand Bushels of Wheat, over and above 
all Profits arising from Room Rent or Tuition Money/ and that 
whenever any Lands, Tenements or Hereditaments, or other Estate 
real or personal, shall be given, granted or conveyed to the Regents 
of the IJniversity of the State, without expressing any Designation 
thereof, such Estate shall be applied in such Manner as to the said 
Regents shall seem most advantageous to the said University. 

Provided always, That whenever any Gift, Grant, Bequest, 
Devise or Conveyance, shall express the particular Use to which 
the same is to be applied, if adequate thereto, it shall be so applied 
and not otherwise. 

VII. And he it further enacted hy the Authority aforesaid, 
That the said Regents be, and they hereby are empowered, to found 
Schools and Colleges in any* part' of this State, as may seem 
expedient to them, and to endow the same, vesting such Colleges 
80 endowed with full and ample Powers to confer the Degrees of 
Batchelor of Arts, and directing the Manner in which such Col- 
leges are to be governed, always reserving to the Chancellor and 
Yice-Chancellor of the University, and a certain number of the 
Regents to be appointed by a Majority of the said Regents, a right 
to visit and examine into the State of Literature in such College, 
and to report to the Regents at large, any Deficiency in the Laws 
of such College, or neglect in the Execution thereof, every such 
School or College being at all Times to be deemed a Part of the 
University, and as such, subject to the Controul and Direction of 
the said Regents ; and if it should so happen, that any Person or 
Persons, or any Body Politic or Corporate, should at his or their 
expense, found any College or School, and endow the same with an 
Estate real or personal, of the yearly Yalue of one Thousand 
Bushel * of Wheat, that such School or College shall, on the appli- 
cation of the Founder or Founders, or their Heirs or Successors, be 
considered as composing a Part of the said University ; and the 
Estate thereunto annexed, shall be and hereby is vested in the said 
Regents of the University, to be applied according to the Intention 
of the Donor ; and that the said Founder and Founders, and their 
Heirs, or if a Body Corporate, their Successors shall be, and hereby 
are forever hereafter entitled to send a Representative for such 
College or School, who, together with the President, (if the Estate 

* This provision as to " forty thousand bushels of wheat" is a marginal addi- 
tion to the original draft, in the same hand writing, and may have been the 
framer's own amendment, rather than that of the Committee of the Whole. 

^The word "sue! ' is interlined in the original draft. 

' " Parts " in orif inal draft. 

■* So in the origii al act, but " bushels " in the draft. 



208 University Convocation. 

is applied to the use of the * College) shall be and they hereby are 
at all Times hereafter to be considered as Regents of the said 
University, and vested with like Powers and Authorities in all 
Things, as in and by this Act is given to the other Regents of the 
said University, and the said College or School, shall in all Things 
not particularly restricted by the Donor, conform to the general 
Laws and Regulation " of the said University. 

Provided, That nothing in this Act contained, shall be construed 
to deprive any Person or Persons, of the Right to erect such 
Schools or Colleges as to him or them may seem proper, inde- 
pendent of the said University.' 

YIII. And he it further enacted hy the Authority aforesaid. 
That whenever any religious Body or Society of Men, shall deem 
it proper to institute a Professorship in the said University, for the 
Promotion of their particular religious Tenets, or for any other 
Purpose not inconsistent with Religion, Morality and the Laws of 
the State, and shall appropriate a Fund for that Purpose, not being 
less than two Hundred Bushels of Wheat per Annum, that the 
Regents of the said University shall cause the same to be applied 
as the Donors shall direct, for the Purposes above mentioned, the 
said Professors so to be appointed, to be subject to the like Rules, 
Laws and Ordinances as other the Professors of the said University, 
and entitled to the like Immunities and Privileges. 

IX. A7id he it further enacted hy the Authority aforesaid. 
That the said Regents and their Successors, forever, shall and may 
have full Power and Authority, by the Chancellor or Vice-Chan- 
cellor of the said University, or any other Person or Persons by 
them authorized or appointed to give and grant to any of the Stu- 
dents of the said University, or to any Person or Persons thought 
worthy thereof, all such Degrees as well in Divinity, Philosophy, 
civil and municipal Laws, as in every other Art, Science and Fac- 
ulty whatsoever, as are or may be conferred by all or any of the 
Universities in Europe; and that the Chancellor or in his absence 
the Yice-Chancellor of the said University for the Time being, do 
sign and seal with the Seal of the said Corporation, Diplomas or 
Certificates of Such Degrees having been given, other than the 
Degree of Batchelor of Arts, which shall and may be granted by 
the President of the College, in which the Person taking the same, 
shall have been graduated,* and the Diplomas shall be signed by 
the said President ; that the Persons to be elected Fellows, Pro- 
fessors or Tutors as aforesaid, be also Regents of the said Univer- 

' *' a " in the original draft. 

* " Regulations," in the original draft. 

' In the original draft, the following section was written and erased with a pen, 
apparently before the subsequent sections were written : " And be it further 
enacted, and it is hereby enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the College in 
the City of New York heretofore called King's College be and it is hereby forever 
hereafter to be Called and known by the name of the State Gollege." 

* So in the original act, but not in the " draft " referred to. 



Annals of Public Education. 209 

sity, Ex o^gUs, and capable of voting in every Case relative only to 
the respeative Colleges to which they shall belong, excepting in 
such Oases wherein they shall respectively be personally con- 
cerned or interested.* 

X. And be it further enacted hy the Authority afoj'esaid. That 
the College within the City of New York, heretofore called King's 
College, be forever hereafter called and known by the Kame of 
Columbia College.' 



A transcript of the Minutes of the Regents of the University from 
1T84 to 1787, under the above act, was kindly made from the origi- 
nal records of Columbia College, by the trustees of that institution, 
in 1857, for the office of the existing Board of Regents. These 
Minutes are now printed, it is believed, for the first time. 

At the First Meeting of the Regents of the University of the 
State of New York at the House of Mr. John Simmons in the 
City of New York, on the 4th day of May in the year of our 
Lord 1784 and of our Independence the eighth, 

Present — His Excellency Govern ok Clinton, 
The Hon^^^ Pierre Yan Coetlandt, 
John Hathorn, Speaker of the Assembly, 
James Livingston, 
Cornelius Humfret, 
James Town send, 
Brockholst Livingston, 
Robert Harpur, 
Ezra L'Hommedieu, 
John Williams, 
Lewis Morris, 
Christopher P. Yates, 
Rutgert Yan Brunt, 
Christopher Yates, 
Philip Pell, Jun^., Esquires. 

A sufficient number of the Regents to proceed on business, not 
attending the Gentlemen present adjourned until 6 o'clock to-mor- 
row Evening to meet at the same place. 



Met according to Adjournment, May the 5th, 1784. 

Present, the above Gentlemen, and John Haring and Matthew 
Clarkson Esquires attending, a quorum is formed and the following 
appointments made : 

1 This provision in regard to "Persons to be elected Fellows," etc., is not in 
the original draft. 
*This name was first written " the Columbian College," in the original draft. 



210 University Convocation. 

His ExcellenGy, Governor Clinton, Chancellor, 

The Hon^^" Pierre Yan Cortlandt, Vice-Cbancellor. 

Brockholst Livingston, Eaq"^., Treasurer. 

Robert Harpur, Esq^., Secretary to the said Universitj. 

Ordered, That the appointment of a President for Columbia Col- 
lege be deferred until a future Meeting. 

Ordered, That the Treasurer and Secretary demand and receive 
from the late Treasurer and Clerk of the late Corporation of the 
College called King's College, and from any other person or persons 
the Records, Papers, Cash, Leases, Mortgages and other Securities 
lately belonging to the said late Corporation, and give receipts 
therefor. 

And in case of refusal to deliver the same to commence Suits for 
the recovery thereof in the name and at the expense of this Corpo- 
ration. 

Resolved, That the Treasurer and Secretary receive such com- 
pensation for their services as shall be allowed at a future Meeting 
of the Regents. 

Ordered, That the Treasurer give such security for the faithful 
performance of his Trust as the Chancellor and any three members 
of this Corporation shall think proper to require. 

Ordered, That Mr. Clarkson, Mr. Livingston, Mr. Morris, Mr. 
Duane, and Mr. Harpur, or any three of them, be a Committee to 
have the care and superintendence of Repairing Columbia College ; 
and that the monies necessary for defraying the expenses thereof 
be occasionally drawn from the Treasury by Warrants from the 
Chancellor. 

Ordered, That a Professor of the French Language be appointed 
for Columbia College, and that the Rev^ Mr. John Peter Tetard 
be such Professor, and that the following Committee make him 
such reasonable compensation as they shall judge adequate to his 
station and services. 

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to employ such other 
Instructors for the advancement of learning in Columbia College, 
as they, or a majority of them shall think necessary, and to engage 
such for the term of twelve months, on such conditions as they can 
agree upon, and to draw monies from the Treasury quarterly for 
the payment as well of the above-named Professor, as of the persons 
employed by them as Instructors, and other Inferior Officers whom 
they are also authorized to employ. And that the Chancellor, Yice- 
Chancellor, the Secretary, the Treasurer, the Secretary of the State, 
the Mayor of the City of New York, Mr. Clarkson, Mr. Morris, Mr. 
Pell, Mr. Yan Brunt, Mr. Bancker, Mr. Dongan, the Attorney-Gen 
eral of the State or the majority of them be a Committee for that 
purpose. 

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to report Bye Laws 
for the Corporation. And that Mr. Duane, Mr. Livingston and 
Mr. Harpur be a Committee for that purpose. 

ResoVoed, That the Chancellor, the Yice-Chancellor, the Treas- 
urer, the Secretary, the Secretary of the State, The Mayor of the 



Annals of Public Education. 211 

City of New York, Colonel Clarkson, General Morris, Mr. Pell, 
Mr. Yan Brunt, Mr. Bancker, Mr. Dongan, the Attorney-General 
of the State or any three or more of them whereof the Chancellor 
to be one, be a Committee for the purpose of devising a seal for 
this Corporation, which seal when made shall be lodged in the 
hands of the Chancellor, and used by the above Committee or any 
seven of them whereof the Chancellor for the time being to be one, 
for the following purposes to wit. The Recovery of possessions, the 
granting of leases, and the Recovery of Debts. 

Ordered, That the Treasurer take such measures for the recovery 
of any monies due to this Corporation on bonds, mortgages, leases 
or otherwise, as by the Chancellor and any four of the above Com- 
mittee shall be judged proper. 

Resolved, That the time which may be employed under the Pro- 
fessor already appointed, or under such other Instructors as may be 
hereafter appointed by the Committee chosen for that purpose, 
shall be considered as a part of the term of a Collegiate Education ; 
and that such Students shall be entitled to an admission, on exam- 
ination, into Columbia College, in the same manner as if they had ac- 
tually studied the same length of time in any other College whatever. 

Resolved, also, That the said Committee last mentioned be 
authorized to send in behalf of this Corporation a suitable person 
to France on such reasonable terms as they shall agree to solicit 
subscriptions for the use of the same, and also that they set on foot 
subscriptions for the same purpose in other parts of Europe as they 
shall judge will be most effectual and attended with least expense. 

Resolved, That the former messenger, Richard Kip, be and he is 
hereby appointed a messenger to this Corporation. 



At a Meeting of a Committee of the Regents at Mr. Simmons's on 
Monday the lYth May, 1784. 

Present — The Chancellor. 

The Yioe-Chancellor. 
The Secretary. 
The Mayor of New York. 
Mr. Tetard.' 

Mr. De Witt Clinton, presenting himself as a Candidate for 
admission into the Junior Class in Columbia College, was examined, 
found qualified, and admitted accordingly. 

^ Mr. Tetard seems to have acted as a Regent representing Columbia College, 
under authority of section vii. of the act of May 1, 1784. 



212 University Convocation, 

At a Meeting of a Committee of the Regents at Mr. Simmons's on 
Saturday the 16th May, 1784. 

Peebent — The Chancellor. 

The Yice-Chancelloe. 

The Treasurer, 

The Secretary, 

The Mayor of New York. 

General Morris. 

General Clinton. 

Mr. Tetard. 

The Committee having received a letter from Theophylact Bache 
of the 11th Instant apologizing for the nonpayment of monies due 
on a Bond from him, George Harrison deceased and Mr. Anthony 
Yan Dam to this Corporation which letter being read and consid- 
ered by the Committee. 

Resolved, That the said Mr. Bache and the Executors of George 
Harrison deceased be required to pay the Interest due, and that the 
Treasurer in case of refusal, take effectual measures for the recovery 
thereof; and that the said Mr. Bache and the Executors aforesaid 
be required to renew their Bond for the principal, and to mortgage 
sufficient real property for the better security thereof. 

On reading a letter from Mr. John DeLancey on the same sub- 
ject. 

Ordered, That Mr. DeLancey be called on to pay One hundred 
pounds on account of Interest due on his Bond to the Corporation, 
and that he renew his Bond with sufficient Security for the payment 
thereof with legal interest. 

On reading a letter from Mr. John Livingston on the same sub- 
ject. 

Ordered, That Mr. Livingston be called upon by the Treasurer to 
pay One hundred pounds on account of Interest due on his Bond to 
this Corporation, and that he renew his Bond with sufficient Security 
for the principal and residue of the Interest in arrear at the time of 
the renewal thereof. 

On reading a letter from Jacobus Vanzandt in behalf of himself 
and the House of Yanzandt and Kettletas on a similar subject, 

Ordered, That the obligors be called upon to pay One hundred and 
fifty pounds and that the Treasurer credit them on their Bond for 
the same and that the further consideration of their request for 
abatement be referred to the determination of the Regents, the 
Committee not having power to make such abatement. 

On reading a letter from Robert C. Livingston Esq. on a like 
subject. 

Ordered, That he be called upon to pay One hundred and fifty 
pounds, and that the Treasurer credit him on his Bond for the same 
and that the further consideration of his case be referred as aforesaid. 

The Treasurer informing the Committee that he liad wrote to 



Annals of Public Education. 213 

several other persons indebted to the Corporation from whom he 
had not yet received any answer, 

Ordered, That he immediately demand from those persons such 
sums of money as on a consideration of their circumstances the 
Chancellor and the Mayor of the City shall think sufficient for the 
present exigence of the Corporation and that further measures for 
the security of the principal and the residue of the Interest in arrear 
at the time of the renewal of their respective Bonds consistent with 
the spirit of the preceding resolution. 

Resolved, That a Grammar School be instituted in Columbia 
College, and that Mr. Wm. Cochran be appointed the master there- 
of for the education of youth, and that he be permitted to remove 
his present school thither, and that he be also a temporary instruc- 
tor in the Latin and Greek languages of the Students admitted into 
the said College. 

And that the Professor of the French Language have also liberty 
to remove his present French private pupils into the said College 
and that such Compensation shall be made to the said Professor and 
Temporary Instructor for their Collegiate services, respectively, as 
shall be adequate thereto. 

Resolved, That the Tuition and Chamber rent of said College shall 
not exceed that which is now paid for Tuition and Chamber rent in 
the College of the State of New Jersey, 

Resolved^ That all candidates who shall be duly examined by the 
said Professor and Temporary Instructor for the time being in the 
presence of the Chancellor or Vice Chancellor and any two of the 
Kegents and who shall be approved of by them shall be admitted 
accordingly into such classes in the said College as they shall be 
found qualified to enter. 



At a Meeting of a Committee of the Regents at Mr. Simmons's on 
the day of May, 1784. 

Present — The Ch ancellok. 

The YicE Chancellor. 

The Treasurer. 

The Secretary. 

The Mayor of the City of New York. 

Geii'l James Clinton. 

Mr. Tetard. 

Philip Livingston and George Livingston, Sons of Philip Living- 
ston Esquire presenting themselves as Candidates for admission into 
the Junior Class in the said College was examined and qualified, 
therefore. 

Resolved, That they be admitted into the said Class. 



214 University Convocation. 

On reading a letter of this date from James Barclay relative to a 
Debt due bj his father, on Bond to this Corporation. 

Ordered, That he be requested by the treasurer to pay one hun- 
dred pounds into the Treasury of said Corporation and that the 
said Treasurer endorse a receipt for the same on the said Bond. 



At a Meeting of the Committee on the 26*'' May 1T84 at Mr. 
Simmons's aforesaid. 

Present — The Treasukee, 
7he Mayor, 
Mr. Tetard, 
And the Secretarf. 

Mr. Abraham Hun presenting himself as a Candidate for admis- 
sion into the Junior Class in Columbia College was examined and 
admitted. 



At a Meeting of the Committee on the 4*^ June 1784 at Mr. Sim- 
mons's aforesaid. 

Present — His Excellency the Chancellor, 

His Honor the Mayor of this City, 

Mr. Treasurer, 

Mr. Secretary, 

Gen'l Morris, 

Col. Yan Brunt, 

Mr. DoNGAisr, 

Mr. Tetard, and 

Mr. Banoker. 

Resolved., That it is the opinion of this Committee that a proper 
person should be authorized on the behalf of the University to 
pro3eed to France and the United Netherlands in order to solicit 
and receive Benefactions for the use of the said University, 

Resolved Unaniinously, That Col.' Clarkson one of the Regents 
of the University be and he is hereby appointed and authorized to 
proceed to France and such parts of the United Netherlands as he 
may think proper for that purpose. 

Col.' Clarkson being present signified his acceptance of the said 
appointment and from a desire to promote the interest of the Uni- 
versity wished for no pecuniary reward beyond his expenses. 

Resolved, That it is the opinion of the Committee that there be 
advanced to Col.' Clarkson Forty Guineas for his expenses and pas- 
sage to Paris and tliat a farther advance of Ninety guineas be made 
to him for his expenses for three months in the execution after his 
arrival there and that he be furnished with a Credit for the 



Annals of Public Education. 2i5 

farther sum of Ninety guineas for his expenses for the three next 
succeeding months. 

Resolved, It is the opinion of the Committee that His Excellency 
the Chancellor issue a Warrant to the Treasurer for the said sums 
amounting to four hundred and ten pounds thirteen and four pence. 

Besolved, That His Excellency the Chancellor with His Honor 
the Mayor of New York be requested to communicate to the Min- 
ister of France now in this City, the before mentioned mission, and 
to solicit his friendly interposition to carry the same into effect. 

Resolved, That the Chancellor and Mayor aforesaid be authorized 
to write letters to the Marquis de la Fayette and such other friends 
to literature, in France and the United Netherlands as they shall 
think fit, to engage their aid and support in the said mission. And 
that Col.' Clarkson be authorized and empowered to purchase such a 
Philosophical Apparatus for Columbia College as D'". FrankliU; Mr. 
Adams, and Mr. JeflTerson, Ministers of the United States, will 
advise, and his collections will admit. 

Resolved, That the Chancellor, the Mayor of New York, the 
Treasurer and the Secretary be authorized to prepare and sign In- 
structions for Colonel ClarksoD and forthwith to dispatch him on 
his said mission. 

Resolved, That the Chancellor, and the Mayor of the City confer 
with Arthur Noble Esquire, lately from Ireland, and correspond 
with such other Gentlemen in that Kingdom as they may think 
proper on the expediency of raising subscriptions for the use of the 
University of this State. 

Resolved, That Tuesday the 15**^ Instant be assigned for the 
Examination of such Candidates as may offer for an admission in 
Columbia College, and that a Committee of the Regents will attend 
at Mr. Simmons's at 6 o'clock P. M. for that purpose. 



At a Meeting of the Committee on the 15*^ day of June 1784 at 
Mr. Simmons's aforesaid. 

Present — His Excellency the Governor. 

His Honor the Mayor of New York. 
Mr. Treasurer Livingston. 
Mr. Secretary Harpub. 
The Rev'd Mr. Tetard. 
Mr. Dongan. 

Mr. John Basset, Mr. Edward Graham, and Mr. Peter Studiford, 
presenting themselves as Candidates for admission into the Junior 
Class in Columbia College were examined and admitted accordingly. 



216 University Convocation. 

August 25^A1784. 

The Committee met. 

Mr. Duane Mr. Livingston Mr. Harpur and Mr. Tetard present. 

Received a letter dated — signed Edward Rigg prds. informing 
the Regents that the Students of Columbia College, with a number 
of others of the City, had formed a Society for the purpose of im- 
proving themselves in Polite Literature, requesting a Chamber in 
the College to be assigned for their use. 

Resolved^ That the Committee approve of the said Society and 
that they be permitted to deposit their books in the College 
Library and that the Librarian of this Society be Librarian of the 
said College till the Regents shall make further order therein, pro- 
vided that nothing in the said Institution contained shall be exercised 
as to weaken or interfere with, in any degree the authority of the 
Officers of the College. 

Mr. [Francis] Sylvester and Mr. [Henry C] Van Schaick being ex- 
amined were admitted into the Junior class. 



[Amendment of the foregoing Act of May 1, 1784.] 



It is found by experience, that some of the laws of the last session, 
particularly the act establishing an university in this State, and the 
impost act, require amendment, as well to render them more easy 
in their execution, as more effectual in tl\eir operation. The officers 
acting immediately under them are directed to state for your informa- 
tion the defects which have been discovered.' 



[In Assembly.] 



October 19th 1784. 



* * Mr. Livingston from the said Committee [of the whole 
on his Excellency the Governor's Speech,] reported, that the Com- 
mittee had agreed to the following Resolutions, which he was 
directed to report to the House, viz. 

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that a Com- 
mittee be appointed to revise the Act for granting certain privi- 
leges to the College called King'^s College [etc., as above], * * 
and that they report to the House such parts thereof * * as 
shall appear to them to require amendment. 



1 Message of Gov. Clinton, Oct. 18, 1784. 



Annals of Public Edvcation. 217 

Mesolved, That Mr. "W. Liviugston*, Mr. Pell", and Mr. J. Liv- 
ingston*, be a Committee to revise the Act for granting certain 
jffrivileges [etc., as above]. 

* * * * 

Octoler 28th, 1T84. 

* * * * 

Mr. W. Livingston, from the Committee appointed to revise 
the act, entitled, An act [etc., as above], reported, that in the 
opinion of the said Committee, several parts of the said act, by 
him particularly mentioned, require amendment — That the Com- 
mittee have prepared a draft of a bill for that purpose, and have 
directed him to move for leave to bring in the same. 

Ordered, That leave be given accordingly. 

Mr. W. Livingston, according to leave, brought in the said bill, 
entitled An act [etc., as above], which was read the first time, and 
ordered a second reading. 

* * * * 

October 29th, 1784. 

* * The bill, entitled * * An act [etc., as above], * * 
were respectively read a second time, and committed to a Com- 
mittee of the whole House. 

* * * * 

This bill seems never to have been considered in Committee of 
the Whole, but to have been superseded by a bill passed by the 
Senate, as appears by the following records : 

[In Senate.] 

November Vlth, 1784, 

* * * * 

Mr. Duane moved for leave to bring in a bill, to amend an act, 
entitled, an act [etc., as above], passed the 1st day of May, 1784. 

Ordered, That leave be given accordingly. 

Mr. Duane, according to leave brought in the said bill, which 
was read the first time, and ordered a second reading. 

* * * * 

Ncyuember ISth, 1784. 

* * * ^ 

The bill, entitled. An act to amend an act, entitled. An act [etc., 
as above], * * * were respectively read a second time, and 
committed to a Committee of the whole. 



' Walter Livingston, of Albany county. 
'Philip Pell, jun., of Westchester county. 
• James Livingston, of Montgomery county 

28 



218 University Convocation. 

The Senate resolved itself into a Committee of the whole, on 
the bill, entitled, An act [etc., as above] : After some time spent 
thereon, the President resumed the chair, and Mr. Whiting from 
the Committee, reported, that they had made some progress in the 
bill, and that he was directed to move for leave to sit again. 

Ordered, That the Committee have leave to sit again. 

* * * * 

NovemUr lUh, 1784. 

* * * * 

A representation of the present condition of Columbia College,* 
in this State, was read, and committed to a Committee of the 
whole, to be taken into consideration with the bill, for granting 
certain privileges to the College, &c. 

* * * * 

Mr. Whiting " from the Committee of the whole, on the bill, 
entitled. An act [etc., as above], reported their proceedings as 
follows, viz. 

That Mr. L'Hommedieu* moved, that the sura of be 

advanced to the Regents of the University of the State of New 
York, for the nse of Columbia College. Debates arose, and the 
question being put thereon, it was carried in the affirmative, as fol- 
lows, viz : 

[Ayes, 9: Noes, 3.] 

That Mr. L'Hommedieu then moved, that the sum so to be 
advanced to the said Regents, be 2552 1. That Mr. Yates then 
moved, as an amendment, that the sum so to be advanced, be 10001. 
and the question being put thereon, it was carried in the negative, 
as follows, viz : 

[Ayes, 5 : Noes, 9.] 

That the question being then put on Mr. L' Hommedieu's motion 
it was carried in the Affirmative, as follows, viz. 

[Ayes, 8 : Noes, 6.] 

That Mr. Finck * then moved, that a clause be added to the bill, 
to direct the Treasurer of this State, to advance the sum of 
hundred pounds, on account, to the Trustees of the different Con- 
gregations on the Frontiers of this State, to enable them to rebuild 
their Churches, and for the establishment of Schools among them. 
Debates arose, and the question being put thereon, it was carried 
in the negative by all the members present, except Mr. Yates and 
Mr. Finck. 

Mr. Whiting further reported, that they had gone through the 
bill, made several amendments thereto, and agreed to the same ; 

' We have failed, thus far, to find a copy of this " representation." 
^ William B. Whiting, of the Western District. 
2 Ezra L'Hommedieu, of the Southern District. 
* Andrew Finck, of the Western District. 



Annals of Public Education. 219 

whicli report he read in his place, and delivered the bill and amend- 
ments in at the table, where the same were again read, and agreed 
to by the Senate. 

Ordered^ that the bill and amendments be engrossed. 
* * * * 

November ^Qth, 1784. 

* * * * 

The engrossed bill, entitled. An act to amend cm act, [etc., as 
above], was read a third time. 

Resolved, That the bill do pass. 

Ordered, That Mr. Whiting carry the bill to the Honorable the 
House of Assembly, and request their concurrence. 

* * * * 
[In Assembly.] 

November mth, 1784. 



A Message from the Honorable the Senate, was delivered by Mr. 
Whiting, with the bill therein mentioned, that the Senate have 
passed a bill, entitled, An act for granting certain ^privileges [eto.j 
the words ^^An act to amend " being omitted,] to which they request 
the concurrence of this House. 

The said bill was read the first time, and ordered a second reading. 



November 22d, 1784. 



The bill entitled ^'' An act to amend an act,^^ [etc, as above], 
passed the 1st day of May 1784, was read a second time, and com- 
mitted to a Committee of the whole House. 



November 24:th, 1784. 
* * * * 

Mr. Jeffrey Smith * from the Committee of Whole House, on the 
bill entitled. An act to amend [etc, as above], reported, that the 
Committee have made some progress therein, and have directed him 
to move for leave to sit again. 

Orderedy That the said Committee have leave to sit again. 



'Of Suffolk County, 



220 University Convocation. 

November 25th, 1784. 
* * * 

Mr. Jeffrey Smith, from the Committee of the whole House, on 
the bill, entitled, [as above], reported, that the Committee have gone 
through the bill, and made amendments, which he was directed to 
report to the House; and he read the report in his place, and 
delivered the bill and amendments in at the table, where the same 
were again read, and agreed to by the House. 

The bill and amendments were then read a third time. 

Resolvsd, That the bill and amendments do pass. 

Ordered, That Mr. Hardenbergh ^ and Mr. Sickles,^ deliver the 
said bill for [to] the Honorable the Senate, and inform them that this 
Rouse have passed the bill, with the amendments therewith 
delivered. 



[In Senate.] 



November 26«5A, 1784. 



A message from the Honorable the House of Assembly (by Mr. 
Hardenbergh and Mr. Sickles) was received, with the bill, entitled, 
An act to amend [etc., as above], informing, that they have passed 
the bill with the amendments therewith delivered. 

Resolved, That the Senate do concur with the Honorable the 
House of Assembly, in their Amendments to the bill. 

Ordered, That Mr. Whiting carry the bill to the Honorable the 
House of Assembly, and inform them, that the Senate have con- 
curred in the amendments to said bill, and have amended the bill 
accordingly. 

A message from the Honorable the House of Assembly (by Mr. 
Clark' and Mr. Doughty*) was received, returning the said bill. 

Ordered, That Mr. Morris carry the bill to the Honorable the 
Council of Revision. 



November 21th, 1784, 
* * * -x- 

A message from the Honorable the Council of Revision, (by Mr. 
Justice Hobart^) was read. That it does not appear improper to the 

' Johannis G. Hardenbergh, of Ulster. 

* William Sickles, of Orange. 

* Jeremiah Clark, of Orange. 

* Charles Doughty, of Kings county. 

* John Sloss Hobart. 



Annals of Public Education. 221 

Council, that the bill, entitled, An act to amend [etc., as above,] 
passed ist May, 1784, should become a law of this State. 



[Original Draft, No. 384, of N. Y. State Legislative Papers (MS.), in State Library.] 

An Ad to amend an Act, entitled, ''An Act for granting certain 
Privileges to the College, heretofore Called King's College, for alter- 
ing the Name and Charter thereof, and erecting an University within 
this State," Passed the 1st day of May, 1784. 

Passed 26th November, 1784. 

Whereas it is represented to the Legislature, that from the dis- 
persed Residences of many of the Regents of the University of 
this State, and the Largeness of the Quorum, who are made capa- 
dle of Business, the Interest and Prosperity of the said University 
have been greatly obstructed. And it is also represented that cer- 
tain Doubts have arisen in the Construction of the Act, entitled, 
" An act for granting certain Privileges to the College heretofore 
called King's College, for altering the Name and Charter thereof, 
and erecting an University within this State, passed the first Day 
of May, 1784." For Remedy whereof 

I. JSe it enacted hy the People of the State of New Yorh, repre- 
sented in Senate and Assembly, and it is hereby enacted by the 
Authority of the same, That in Addition to the Regents appointed 
in and by the before-mentioned Act, the several Persons herein 
after named, shall be, and hereby respectively are constituted Regents 
of the said University, (that is to say) John Jay, Samuel Provost, 
John H. Livingston, John Rodgers, John Mason, John Canoe, 
John Daniel Gros, Johann Ch. Kunze, Joseph Delaplain. Gershom 
Seixas, Alexander Hamilton, John Lawrence, John Rutherford, 
Morgan Lewis\ Leonard Lispenard, John Cochran, Charles 
McKnight, Thomas Jones, Malachi Treat and Nicholas Remain of 
New York ; Peter W. Yates, Matthew Visscher and Hunlock 
Woodrufi", of Albany; George J. L. Doll, of Ulster; John Van- 
derbilt, of Kings ; Thomas Romain, of Montgomery ; Samuel 
Buel, of Suffolk ; Gilbert Livingston, of Dutchess ; Nathan Kerr, 
of Orange; Ebenezer Lockwood, of Westchester, John Lloyd, jun., 
of Queens ; Harmanus Garrison, of Richmond ; and Ebenezer 
Russell, of Washington.'' And that the said respective Regents 
hereby constituted, shall enjoy the same Power and Authority, as 
are granted to, and vested in the other Regents appointed by the 
said Act, as fully and effectually, as if they had been therein 
expressly named. 

II. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesid, That 
it shall and may be lawful to and for the Chancellor of the said 
University, and in his Absence the Yice-Chancellor, and in the 

1 The name of Aai-on Burr follows " Morgan Lewis" in the original draft. 
' The names from Peter W. Tates to Ebenezer Russell, both inclusive, do not 
appear in the original draft. 



222 University Convocation. 

Absence of both, the Regent next nominated in the before-men- 
tioned Act, who shall be present together with any eight or more 
of the Eegents duly convened to form a Quorum of Regents for 
the Dispatch of the Business and affairs of the said University, 
whose Acts and Proceedings shall be as valid and effectual to all 
Intents and Purposes, as if all the Members of the said Regency 
were actually present. Provided always, that to constitute a legal 
Meeting of the Regents, the Time and Place for holding the same, 
shall be previously fixed by the Chancellor, or in his Absence the 
Vice-Chancellor, or in the Absence of both, the Regent next nomi- 
nated in the said Act, by writing under his Hand, and Notice 
thereof signed by the Secretary of the University, shall previously 
be advertised in one of the public Newspapers, for at least two 
Weeks, to give all the Regents within a convenient Distance, an 
Opportunity of attending. 

III. And he it further enacted hy the Authority aforesaid. 
That there shall be an annual Meeting of the Regents of the said 
University, which shall be held at the Time and Place where the 
Legislature shall first be convened, after the first Monday of July 
in every Year, and that at every such Meeting the Acts and Pro- 
ceedings of the Regents of the said University shall be reported 
and examined. 

ly. And he it further enacted hy the Authority aforesaid. 
That it shall and may be lawful to, and for the Clergy of each 
respective religious Denomination in this State, respectively to meet 
at such Time and Place as they shall deem proper, after the passing 
of this Act, and then and there, by a Majority of Voices of the 
Members of each respective Denomination so assembled, to elect one 
of each of their respective Bodies, to be a Regent of the said Uni- 
versity, and in Case of Death or Resignation, to elect Successors in 
the same Manner' ; and every Regent so elected shall have the like 
Powers as any Regent constituted by this Act, or the Act hereby 
amended. 

Y. And he it further enacted hy the Authoritry aforesaid. That 
the next Meeting of the Regents of the said University shall be 
held at the Senate Chamber, the Day after the rising of the Legis- 
lature, if that Day shall not happen on Sunday, in which Case, the 
said Meeting shall be held on the Day succeeding, and a sufficient 
Quorum of the Regents being assembled, shall have Power to ad- 
journ from Time to Time, and to any Place they shall think fit for 
the Dispatch of the Business of the said University. 

VI. And he it further ended hy the Authority aforesaid, That 
it shall and may be lawful to and for the Treasurer of this State, 
and he is hereby authorized and required to advance to the 
Treasurer of the said University for the Use of Columbia College a 
Sum not exceeding Two Thousand Five Hundred and Fifty-two 
Pounds, for which the said Regents shall be accountable, out of the 
Funds of the said Columbia College, 

' The word " forever," is added in the original draft. 



Annals of Public Education. 223 



[In Boaed of REGEifrs.] 

At a Meeting of Kegents in the Senate Chamber, November 30th, 

1784, 

Pkesent — The Chancellob, Mr. Tetard, 

The Treasurer, Mr. Romaine, 

The Secretary, Dr. Cochran, 
The Mayor of New York, I>r. McKnight, 

Mr. Provost, Mr. Lewis, 

Dr. Roger" Mr. Hamilton, 

Mr. Ganob Mr. Rutherford, 
Mr. Seixa. 

Resolved., That the Secretary write a letter to Colonel Clark- 
eon, in France, acknowledging the receipt of his of the 11*^ of 
Angust last enclosing a letter from Doctor Franklin to Doctor 
Witherspoon,* signifying the intention of the Regents to pnrsue the 
object of his mission no further at yjresent, and that he should return 
unless subsequent to the date of his letter a more favorable prospect 
has presented to justify his farther continuance there. 

Ordered., That Mr. Nevin be desired to inspect the roof of Colum- 
bia College, attend the Board and lay before them an Estimate of 
what it would cost to repair the said roof in such manner as to pre- 
serve the College from injury through the Winter, and also an 
Estimate of the expense of a thorough repair of the Roof at this 
time. 

Resolved., That Mr. Provost, Mr. Romaine and Mr. Lewis be a 
Committee to form a regulation for the Stewardship of the said Col- 
lege, receive proposals from such persons as may incline to accept 
of that Office, and to report to the Board. 

Ordered., That Dr. Rogers, Col. Hamilton and Dr. McKnight be 
a Committee to prepare and report a plan for a Subscription to be 
opened in the State for the benefit of the University, with an address 
to the Citizens on the Subject. 

Ordered., That the Mayor, Mr. Kunze, Col. Hamilton, Mr. 
Livingston and Dr. Rogers be a Committee to report the plan of 
education for the present and the number of Officers necessary to 
carry it into execution. 

Adjourned to Thursday Evening at 5 o'clock, to meet at the 
Senate Chamber. 



' We have failed, as yet, to find a copy of this letter. 



224 University Convocation. 

Thursday Evening, December 2d, 1784. 
The Regents met at the Senate Chamber according to adjourn- 
ment. 

Present — The Mayor of New York, Dr, Cochran, 
The Treasurer, Mr. Romaine, 

The Secretary, Mr. Gross, 

Dr. Rogers, Mr. Seixas. 

Ctl. Hamilton, 

Mr. Nevin employed to repair Columbia College attended and 
giving account of the situation in which the roof of that Building is 
at present. 

Ordered, That he be and he is hereby directed from time to time to 
inspect the said roof and make such temporary repairs as he shall 
think sufficient to preserve it from injury during the ensuing Winter, 
and that the further repairing of the roof be postponed till Spring. 
And also that Mr. Nevin attend to the preservation of the founda- 
tion of the said Building, and that the Secretary furnish him with a 
Copy of this order. 

Adjourned till Tuesday Evening next, the T*'* December 1784, at 
six o'clock. 



At a meeting of the Regents in the Senate Chamber Dec. 7th, 1784. 

Present — The Chancellor, Dr. Jones, 

The Secretary, Dr. Romine, 

The Treasurer, Mr. Scott, 

Dr. Livingston, Mr. Provost, 

Dr. McKnight, Mr. Gros, 

Dr. Cochran, Mr. Tetard, 

Dr. Treat, Mr. Rutherford, 

Mr. Romine from the Committee for forming a Regulation for 
the Stewardship of Columbia College, Reported that they had agreed 
with Jonathan Baldwin to accept of the Stewardship of the said 
College on the following terms. That Mr. Baldwin be allowed an 
annual Salary of £40 to be paid him quarterly. That the Treasurer 
advance him immediately one quarter's Salary, for which he is to 
account, and that there be advanced him on loan for one year twenty 
pounds to enable him to purchase Kitchen Utensils. 

That in addition to the Kitchen & Cellar room adjacent, he be 
allowed the privilege of a Chamber on the First floor, and that the 
Garden be enclosed for his use. That the said Steward shall give 
breakfast dinner and supper to such of the Students as shall apply 
^o him for the purpose, for which he is to receive at the rate of 
twelve shillings per week, and Eight shillings for dinner only. 

That the Treasurer reduce this agreement to writing and it be 
reciprocally sealed by the Chancellor and the said Steward. 



Annals of Public Education. 



225 



That if upon trial it shall appear that the above allowance is 
insufficient, the Regents will make such farther compensation to the 
Steward as they shall judge adequate. 

To which report the Regents agreed and appointed the said 
Steward accordingly. 

Ordered, That the Treasurer advance £100 to the Steward for the 
purpose of purchasing lire wood for the use of the College, and that 
the Steward deposit the same at the College for the further disposi- 
tion of the Regents. 

Ordered, That the farther consideration of the appointment of a 
President be postponed. 

Adjourned to Thursday Evening next at six o'clock. 



At a Meeting of the Regents in the Senate Chamber, December 
9th, 1784. 

Present — The Chancellor, Mr. Gross, 

The Secretary, Mr. Provost, 

Col. Hamilton, Br. Jones, 

Dr. Rogers, Mr. Rutherford, 

Dr. Livingston, Di\ Treat, 

Mr. Ganoe, Dr. Kunze 

On Motion of Mr. Lewis, • 

Ordered, That a committee be appointed to enquire into the 
state of the Finances of Columbia College and report a plan of In- 
struction necessary to be immediately adopted the number of per- 
manent Professors necessary therefor, and the salaries that the funds 
allow them, and likewise to recommend and receive proposals from 
such Gentlemen as may be qualified and that Mr. Duane, Dr. 
Kunze, Dr. Rodgers, Col. Hamilton, Dr. Livingston, Mr. Pro- 
vost, Dr. Romaine and Col. Lewis be the Committee for that 
purpose. 

Adjourned till Tuesday Evening next at 5 o'clock. 



At a Meeting of the Regents in the Senate Chamber in 


York, December 14th, 1784. 




Present — The Chancellor, 


Mr. Ganoe, 


The Secretary, 


Dr. Jones, 


Col. Hamilton, 


Dr. Cochran, 


Col. Lewis, 


Mr. Seixas, 


Mr. Rutherford, 


Mr. Gros, 


Dr. Rogers, 


The Sec'y of State, 


Dr. KuNziE, 


Dr. McKnight. 


Mr. Provost. 





New 



29 



226 University Convocation, 

The Committee appointed to CDquire into the state of the finances 
of Cohnnbia College and the annual income of the same, to digest 
a plan of Education &c. &c. by M' Provost reported. Which report 
was agreed to and is in the words and figures following viz*. 

1^*. That the annual Income of the Personal Estate of Columbia 
College may be computed to be £1000. 

2"*^. That they recommend the following Professorships to be 
established in the said College in the Faculty of Arts, viz*. 
A Professorship in Latin, 
Do in Greek, 

Do in Moral Philosophy, 

Do in Logic & Rhetoric, 

Do in Mathematics, 

Do in Geography, 

Do in Natural Philosophy & Astronomy. 

3'^. That they approve of the Report made by the Committee of 
Medical Gentlemen in the Regency, for the Establishment of the 
Medical School, and therefore recommend the following Professor- 
ships in the Faculty of Medicine viz*. 

A Professorship in Chemistry. 



Do 
Do 


in Botany. 

in the Institutes of Medicine. 


Do 


in the Materia Medica. 


Do 
Do 


in Anatomy. 

in the Practise of Physic. 


Do 
Do 


in Surgery, 
in Midwifery. 



4*^. That the following Professorships be established in the fac- 
ulty of law, viz*. : 

A Professorship in the law of Nature and Nations. 

Do in the Roman Civil law. 

Do in the Municipal law. 

5***. That the faculty in Divinity be formed by such Professor- 
ships as may be established by the different Religious Societies 
within the State pursuant to the Act instituting the University. 

gthiy_ ^Y^^i besides the Professorship of the French Language 
already established, they recommend the following extra pro- 
fessorships to be founded in this University, viz*. : 

A Professorship in the Oriental languages. 

" in the German Do. 

" in the Low Dutch Do. 

" in Civil History. 

" in Architecture. 

" in Commerce. 

" in Agriculture. 

" in Music. 

" in Painting. 



Annals of Public Education. 227 

fjmj^ That independent of the Professorships the following 
appointments be made — a President — a Secretary — a Librarian. 

gthiy^ That the diflerent Professorships in the Faculty of Arts be 
completed as soon as possible, and that the following Salaries be 
annexed to each Professorship independent of the Emoluments of 
the Classes, viz*. : Latin — Greek — Moral Philosophy — each £100 
Per Annum — Rhetoric and Logic £50 — Mathematics, Natural 
Philosophy and Astronomy each £200, and that the Professor of 
the French language already appointed be allowed £100 per 
annum. And that the annual Salary of the President as such be 
£200. 

gthiy- That such Professors be immediately appointed as may be 
competent in the opinion of the Regents. 

]^()thiy_ That the President preside over the College and confer the 
Honors of the University. That the Secretary attend at the matri- 
culation of the Students and keep the books which respect the 
College and the government thereof under his care. Each Student 
pay one dollar at his matriculation which shall go towards the sup- 
port of the College Library. That the Librarian be responsible 
for the library and give security for the books under his care, to be 
subject to the directions of the Regents, and to attend at such time 
in the Library Room as may be thought proper. 

ll*^'^.That the Professors then appointed be part of a Committee 
for preparing bye laws for the Government of the College. 

Adjourned till Tuesday next at 6 o'clock p. m. 



At a Meeting of the Regents in the Senate Chamber in New 
York, on Tuesday the 21 December, 1784. 

Present — The Chancellor. Dr. Romine, 

The Secretary, Dr. Kunzie, 

Col. Hamilton, Mr. Gano, 

Dr. Cochran, Mr. Provost, 

Dr. Livingston, Mr. Gros, 

Dr. Jones, Dr. Treat, 

Mr. Lewis, Mr. Seixas. 
Dr. McKnight, 

The Regents proceeded to the nomination of Professors of the 
Latin and also of the Greek Languages, when Mr. Gros was nom- 
inated as Professor of the Latin, Mr. Kunzie was nominated for the 
Greek and Mr. Cochran for both. 

Doctor Livingston was nominated to the Professorship of Moral 
Philosophy, and Mr. Tetard and Mr. Moore as Professors of Rhetoric 
and Logic — Mr. De Wit and Mr. Cochran were also nominated 
for the Professorship of Mathematics and Dr. Moyes for natural 
Philosophy and Astronomy and Dr. Bard was nominated Professor 
of Chemistry. 



228 University Convocation. 

Adjourned till Thursday Evening next, at 5 o'clock, December 
23, 1784. 

The Regents met according to Adjournment. 

Pbesent — Mr. Rutherford, The Mayor of New York, 

Mr. Lewis, The Treasurer, 

Mr. Hamilton, Dr. Rogers, 

Mr. Laurance, Dr. Kunzie, 

Mr. Mason, Dr. Livingston, 

Dr. RoMAYN, Mr. Gross, 

Dr. Cochran, Mr. Seixas, 

Dr. McKnight, Dr. Jones, 

Dr. Treat, Mr. Dongan, 

Mr. Scott, Mr. Ganoe. 
The Chancellor, 

A Motion having been made and agreed to for proceeding to the 
Election of Professors of the Latin and Greek Languages, it was 
proposed that Mr. Gros, and Dr. Kunzie, being Candidates should 
withdraw, which being approved they withdrew accordingly. 

Whereupon the Board proceeded to Ballot and upon taking the 
votes it appeared that Mr. William Cochran was elected Professor of 
the Latin language, and he is hereby appointed accordingly. 

Then the Board proceeded to the Election of Greek, and the 
Ballots being taken it appeared that the said Mr. Cochran was also 
elected a Professor of the Greek language, and he is hereby appointed 
accordingly. The Board proceeded no farther at this time. 

Adjourned till Friday Evening at 6 o'clock p. m. 



The Board met according to adjournment at the Senate Chamber 
in New York December 28th, 1784. 

Present — Dr. Cochran, The Secretary, 

Dr. McKnight, The Mayor of New York, 

Dr. Jones, Dr. Livingston, 

Dr. RoMiNE, Dr. Rogers, 

Mr. Provost, Mr. Mason, 

Mr. Attorney Gen', CcV. Hamilton, 

Mr. Livingston, Mr. Rutherford, 

Mr. Seixas, Mr. Lewis. 

The Chancellor, 

On motion to proceed to the Election of the Professor of Moral 
Philosophy, Doctor Livingston signified his wish to decline the 
appointment as it would too much interfere with other and indis- 
pensible duties in which he is engaged, particularly his appointment 
as Professor of Divinity. 



Annals of Public Education. 229 

On Motion to proceed to the Election of the Professor of Rhetoric 
and Logic, the Board proceeded to ballot, and Mr. Benjamin Moore 
was elected and is hereby appointed accordingly. 

Also Dr. Samuel Bard was elected by ballot Professor of Chem- 
istiy, and is hereby appointed accordingly. 

Dr. Rodgers nominated Mr. Gros as Professor of the Oriental 
languages and Geography, and 

Mr. Provost nominated Dr. Kunze as Professor of the Oriental 
Languages. 

Then the Board adjourned till Thursday Evening next at 6 o'clock. 



The Board met according to Adjournment in New York at the 
Senate Chamber, December 30th, 1784. 



Present — His Excellency Goveenoe Clinton, Chancellor, 



Doctor Livingston, 


Dr. Rodgers, 


Doctor COCHEAN, 


Mr. Provost, 


Mr. Mason, 


Dr. McKnight, 


Dr. Treat, 


The Secretary, 


Dr. Romine, 


Mr. Seixas, 


Mr. Lespinard, 


Mr. Attorney General, 


Dr. Jones, 


Colonel Hamilton. 



Doctor Kunze was elected, by ballot, a Professor of the Oriental 
languages, and he is hereby appointed accordingly. 

M'' Gros was nominated a Professor of the German language by 
M"" Provost, to which he was by ballot elected and was also elected 
to the Professorship of Geography, for which he had been nominated 
the last preceding Meeting. 

To each of these Professorships he is hereby appointed accord- 
ingly. 

D^ Kissam was nominated for a Professor of the Institutes of 
Medicine by D'". Romaine. 

Doctor McKnight was nominated as Professor of Anatomy and 
Surgery by Doctor Cochran. 

Doctor Crosby was nominated as Professor of Midwifery by 
Doctor Cochran, and. 

Doctor Romine was nominated as Professor of Anatomy by M' 
Benson. 

Then the Board adjourned till Tuesday the 11*^ January next at 
6 o'clock P. M. 



230 University Convocation. 

The Board met in the Senate Chamber in New York, January 
11th, 1785. 

Present — Sis ExceUenoy Govbknob Clinton, Chancellor, 

The Secretary, Mr. Etjtherford, 

Dr. Livingston, Col. Hamilton, 

Dr. Rogers, Mr. Gano, 

Mr. Mason, Mr. Romine, 

Mr. Livingston, Mr. Provost, 

Mr. Gross, Mr. Lewis. 

Mr. KuNZE, Mr. Lawrence, 

Dr. CocHRAif, Mr. Cochran, 

Dr. Seixas, Dr. Treat. 
The Mayor of New York, 

On Motion the Regents proceeded to the Election of a Professor 
of the Institutes of Medicine ; to which Office Doctor Benjamin 
Kissam was by ballot, duly elected, and he is hereby appointed 
accordingly. 

The Regents then proceeded to the Election of a Professor of 
Anatomy, to which office, Dr. Charles McKnight was by ballot, 
duly elected and is hereby appointed accordingly. 

They then proceeded to the Election of a Professor of Surgery 
when the said Doctor McKnight was duly elected, and is hereby 
appointed accordingly. 

Then Doctor Romine was by D"^ Livingston nominated to the Pro- 
fessorship of the practise of Physic. \y Cochran was also nom- 
inated to the same Professorship by M*" Mason, but the Doctor 
offering reasons for declining the appointment, they were accepted 
according to his request. 

On Motion the Board then proceeded to the Election of a Pro- 
fessor of Midwifery, and Doctor Crosby being duly elected, is 
hereby appointed accordingly. 

The Petition of Isaac Sebring a Debtor to this Corporation, pray- 
ing an abatement of interest due on his Bond, now in Suit was read 
and the consideration thereof postponed to the next Meeting. 

The Treasurer mentioning to Board that about £1500 lay in 
the hands of the State Treasurer subject to the order of this 
Board, and desired to be informed whether the same should be 
put out to Interest, 

Ordered., That the Consideration of this Matter be postponed 
to a future Meeting. 

Then the Board adjourned till Tuesday next at 6 o'clock in 
the afternoon. 



Annals of Public Education, . 231 

The Board met at the House of John Simmons, Inn Keeper in 
New York the 18th day of January, 1785. 

Pbesent — The Treastjreb, Mr. Livingston, Yice- Chancellor, «fec., 
Dr. Livingston, Mr. Gros, 

Mr. Provost, I)r. Cochran, 

Mr. Mason, Mr. Livingston, 

Dr. Rogers, Mr. Cochran. 

The Secretary, 

The Board proceeded to the Election of a Professor of the Prac- 
tice of Physic, when Doctor Remain was duly elected, and is hereby 
appointed accordingly. 

Mr. Gros then nominated Doctor Samuel Bard for a Professor of 
Natural Philosophy and Astronomy in Columbia College. 

On Motion of Mr. Provost, Dr. Jones and the Secretary were 
appointed a Committee to report to the Board what in their opinion 
would be a proper compensation to Mr. Tetard for his Services as 
Professor of the French Language in the said College from the time 
of liis appointment aud also to Mr. Cochran for his services during 
the time he officiated as a Temporary Instructor. 

The Board then took into consideration the Case of Mr. Sebring 
as represented in his Petition delivered in and read at the last 
Meeting, whereupon it was ordered that the further consideration 
thereof be deferred to some future Meeting. 

Then the Board adjourned to meet at the said House on Wednes- 
day the 26th Inst, at 6 o'clock in the Afternoon. 



The Board met at the House of John Simmons, Inn Keeper, 
according to adjournment January 26th, 1785. 

Present — His Excellency, Governor Clinton, Chancellor. 

The Treasurer, The Mayor of NkwYoek, 

The Secretary, Dr. Livingston, 

Mr. Rutherford, Dr. Rogers, 

Dr. McKnight, Dr. Kunze, 

Dr. Jones, Mr. Provost, 

Dr. RoMAYN, Mr. Mason, 

Dr. Cochran, • Mr. Seixas, 

Mr. Jay, Mr. Yates, - 

Mr. L'HoMMEDiEu,' Mr. Gros, 

Mr. Clarkson, Mr. Tetard, 

Mr. Lewis, Mr. Cochran. 

The Secretary presenting a letter from Doctor Moyes the same 
was read and is as follows, viz *. 

'' Doctor Moyes presents his most respectful Compliments to the 
Regents of the University of the State of New York and begs 



232 University Convocation. 

leave to return them his most sincere and grateful thanks, for the 
honor they have conferred upon him by their polite tender of the 
Philosophical Chair. 

As the present state of the Doctor's Affairs prevents him from 
acceding to the proposition made by the Regents before the expira- 
tion of two years, he requests permission to propose the following 
terms, on which he will be happy to serve the University to the 
utmost of his power. First, that he will begin as soon as the 
Regents think meet, to teach a Class in Natural Philosophy on the 
plan now adopted by the most flourishing Universities in Europe for 
the annual salary of two hundred pounds sterling, and that any 
salary or emoluments enjoyed by his Assistant shall be considered 
on his side as part of that sura. Secondly, if the preceding 
proposition shall be found inadmissable the Doctor will accept the 
Chemistry and Natural History with the indulgence of two years 
absence, provided the University at the end of that period will 
allow him an annual salarv of One hundred pounds Sterling." 

" January 24*^ 1785." ' 

The Board taking the said letter into immediate consideration 
some time was spent thereon and Mr. Mayor moved for the follow- 
ing resolution, viz *. 

Resolved, That Dr. Moyes be informed that the state of our 
finances will not admit of a compliance with his first proposition 
contained in his letter. On which the question being put it was car- 
ried in the affirmative. 

The Board then proceeding to the Election of a Professor of 
Natural Philosophy and Astronomy Doctor Samuel Bard was by 
ballot duly elected and is hereby appointed accordingly. 

Doctor Romayne then moved that a Professorship of Natural 
History be added to the Institution, the question being put it was 
carried in the affirmative. 

Mr. Treasurer then informed the Board that at the request of 
Doctor Bard he signified that Gentleman's resignation of the Pro- 
fessorship of Chemistry which being agreed to. Dr. Moyes was 
then nominated for a Professor of Natural History by Doctor 
Rogers, and the same Gentleman was also nominated a Professor 
of Chemistry by Dr. Romayne. The Board then agreeing to pro- 
ceed to the Election, Doctor Moyes was by ballot duly elected a 
Professor of Natural History, and also a Professor of Chemistry in 
Columbia College, to each of which Professorships he is hereby 
appointed accordingly. 

Mr. Mayor then moved that One hundred and eighty pounds 
New York Currency Per Annum be allowed to Doctor Moyes as a 
Salary to commence at the time of his entering on the Execution of 
his offices, in the said College, which was agreed to by the Board. 

Ordered, That the Secretary notify Dr. Moyes of the proceed- 
ings of this Evening so far as they relate to him. 



Annals of Public Education. 233 

At a Meeting of the Regents of the University in the Assembly 
Chamber at the Exchange in the City of New York on Tuesday 
the ]5th day of February 1785, 

Present — The HorChle Gelston, Esq., Speaker of the Assembly ^ 
Mr. DuANE, Mayor of lyew York, 
Mr. Scott, Secretary of the State, 
Mr. Livingston, Treasurer, 
Mr. Harpue, Secretary, 

Mr. HoMFEEY, Mr. Lispenard, 

Mr. Morris, Mr. McKnight, 

Mr. Pell, Dr. Jones, 

Mr. Is. Livingston, Dr. Romayne, 

Mr. L'HoMMEDiEU, Mr. Lockwood, 

Mr. Provost, Mr. Tetaed, 

Dr. Livingston, Mr. Cochran, 

Dr. Rogers, Mr. Moore, 

Mr. Gros, Dr. Kissam, 

Dr. KuNZE, Dr. Crosby, 

Mr. Seixas, Dr. Bard. 

Mr. Lewis, 

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed and directed to 
enquire for a fit person to fill the Offices of President, Professor of 
Moral Philosophy and Mathematics, in Columbia College, and to 
report as soon as may be ; and also to consider of and report ways 
and means for raising a Salary for his maintenance, and that the 
said Committee consist of Mr. Duane, Mr. Provost, Dr. Rogers, 
Dr. Livingston, Mr. L'Hommedieu, Col. Hamilton and Dr. Jones. 

Mr. Duane informing this Corporation that Major Edward 
Clarke by a Will which he executed some time before the late War 
bequeathed to the Governors of the College lately called Kings 
and now Columbia College, one thousand pounds Sterling, to be 
laid out for books in addition to the then College Library ; that he 
charged his Hyde Estate, a very valuable Plantation in the Island 
of Jamaica, with the payment of the said legacy which he ordered 
to be paid within two years after his death. That he appointed 
several Gentlemen some residing in England and some in the said 
Island of Jamaica together with Goldsbrow Banyar Esquire and 
the said Mr. Duane to be Executors of his said Will, a duplicate 
whereof is in their possession. That Major Clark is since dead 
leaving it is supposed, but known with certainty, the said Will in 
full force. 

Whereupon, Resolved, That the Treasurer take such measures as 
the Law directs for the recovery of the said Legacy and that the 
Seal of this Corporation be affixed to the necessary powers for that 
purpose. 

The question being put on the said Resolution, it was carried in 
the affirmative. 

Mr. Duane then moved for the following resolution. 
30 



234 University Convocation. 

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to visit Columbia Col- 
lege on the first Monday in every month at Eleven o'Clock in the 
forenoon, in order to examine into and encourage the improvements 
of the Students. That the said Committee be authorized to see the 
By-laws formerly established for the government of the College, as 
far as circumstances admit, put into execution ; and that they report 
vpithout delay their opinion on the alterations which are proper 
and necessary for the better government of the said College and 
improvement of the Students, which was agreed to by the Board. 

A Petition of the 15*^ Instant from Nicholas Romayne was read 
and is in substance as follows. 

That Anthony Van Dam, Theophylacte Bache and the late George 
Harison were indebted to this Corporation. That a Suit by a 
resolution of the University, was commenced by their Treasurer 
against Mr. Bache and Mr. Harison, Son of the said George Harison 
deceased, for the recovery of the Debt and that the said Petitioner 
requested that the Suit be stopped on his giving a new Bond for 
the demand of the Regents and mortgaging sutiicient real property 
in and near this City to secure the payment thereof with the Inter- 
est in one year after date. 

Resolved, That the prayer of the said Petition be granted. 

On Motion of Mr. Gros, 

Resolved, That Mr. Lispenard, Mr. Lewis and Mr. Rutherford 
be a Committee for auditing certain accounts of repairs in Colum- 
bia College which he the said Mr. Gros, will lay before them. 

The Petition of Richard Kip Jun"" Messenger to this Corporation 
was read and referred to Dr. J ones. Dr. Bard and Mr. Moore, who 
are to report thereon at the next Meeting. 

A letter from Aug. V. Horn, requesting the appointment of a 
Committee to audit his accounts as Treasurer to the late Corpora- 
tion of King's College and signifying that he thinks himself justly 
entitled to a certain Salary and for the term of five years next pre- 
ceding the month of May last, was presented, read, and committed 
to Dr. Jones, Dr. Bard and Mr, Moore. 



April 4th. 

This day in presence of Mr. Mayor, Doctor Livingston, Dr. Rogers, 
and Mr. Harpur, the Candidates, Mr. James C. Duane, Mr. Peter 
Mosier, and Mr. Matthew Mosier, were examined for admission into 
the Freshman's Class in Columbia College, and being found quali- 
fied were admitted accordingly. 



At a Meeting of the Regents of the University of the State of 
New York at the Assembly Chamber in the Exchange in the City 
of New York on Monday the 4th day of April 1785. 



Annals of Pu-blic Education. 235 

Present — His Excellency^ Governor Clinton, Chancellor. 
The Speaker of the Assembly, 
The Secretary of the State, 
The Mayor of New York, 
The Treasurer, Dr. Kunzie, 

The Secretary, Mr. Lispenard, 

Mr. Yates, Dr. McKnight, 

Mr. HoMFREY, Dr. Romayne, 

Mr. Christopher P. Yates, Mr. Russell, 
Mr. Provost, Mr. Williams, 

Dr. Livingston. Mr. Vanderbilt, 

Dr. Rogers, Mr. Cochran, 

Mr. Mason, Mr. Moore, 

Mr. Gros, Dr. Kissam, 

Dr. Cochran, Dr. Bard. 

The Chancellor having signified his intention to resign his Office, 
delivered to the Secretary the Seal of the Corporation and his resig- 
nation in writing in the words following to wit : 

" I do hereby resign the place of Chancellor of the University 
" of the State of New York. Given under my hand this 4th day 
" of April 1T85." 

GEO CLINTON." 

The Chancellor then withdrew and the Vice Chancellor being 
absent, the Speaker of the Assembl}'^ the next authorized by law to 
preside took the chair and the Chancellor's resignation was accepted. 

It being read and accepted, ordered the same be entered in the 
Minutes of the University, 

Mr. Harpur signifying to the Board that a person named Nicholas 
Wethershine a tenant of this Corporation, thro' hira, requested 
leave to assign his lease of a lot of Ground, ordered that leave 
be given accordingly. 

The Committee appointed to examine the state of the funds of 
Columbia College to enquire for a proper person to be appointed 
President and Professor of Mathematics, reported in the words 
following to wit 

That they find in the hands of the Treasurer £952 .0.0. In 
the hands of Mr. Cotes of London deposited by Mr. John Watts 
and subject to the drafts of the Treasurer of King's College 
£1169 . 14 . 8. That these sums managed with econonjy they 
think may be sufficient to complete the repairs of the College so 
far as is absolutely necessary for the preservation of the Building, 
to pay the salaries of the Professors, To purchase a small Philoso- 
phical Apparatus and for such other contingent expenses as may 
occur in the present year. 

That if the College lots were let out to the best advantage they 
would bring in per annum about £250. 

That if the Treasurer was ordered immediately to prosecute to a 
settlement all debts due to the Corporation, a sum not less than 



236 University Convocation. 

£12,000 might be secured, the income of which at seven per cent 
will be £840. 

That the rent of the Rooms over and above what will be neces- 
sary for the accommodation of the President and Professors at £80 
per Annum for each Student will be £120. They therefore hope 
the future Income of Columbia College may be estimated at £1200 
per Annum. 

To secure which they recommend to the Regents to appoint a 
Committee immediately to let out all those lots which surround the 
present area of the College upon leases for 21 years, those between 
Chapel Street and Greenwich Street not already let upon similar 
leases or upon leases for lives, as may be found most advantageous, 
and that the said Committee shall obtain information and report to 
the Regents the terms upon which the Water lots can be disposed 
of to most advantage. 

The Committee also recommend to the Regents to authorize the 
Treasurer to issue two hundred pounds Sterling out of the money 
in his hands to the Professor of Natural Philosophy for the pur- 
chase of a Philosophical Instrument, for which the said Professor 
is to be accountable, and to draw for the money in England, in such 
a way as that the Corporation in case of any obstacle to the pay- 
ment, may not be exposed to damages. 

That from the deranged state of, and great losses which the funds 
of Columbia College have sustained they do not think the Regency 
have it at present in their power to offer such a Salary as will be an 
inducement to a respectable Character to accept of the office of 
President, they therefore report that the present Professors in the 
Faculty of the Arts shall be requested to execute the office of 
President for one year by monthly rotation. And that Mr. John 
Kempe be appointed Teacher of Mathematics in Columbia College 
for one year with the Salary annexed to that Professorship. 

That if this proposal is adopted, the salaries for which the 
Regency will be engaged will amount to £850 per annum exclu- 
sive of what they are engaged for to Dr. Moyes at the expiration of 
two years. 

That they present to the Regency a plan of discipline for the 
Government of Columbia College and a course of studies to be 
gone thro' by such Students as shall be admitted to a Batchelor's 
Degree. 

That having appointed a Teacher of Mathematics and succeeded 
in their 'application to the Professors to execute the Office of Presi- 
dent for the ensuing year, they report that the Plan of Tuition and 
Discipline may be published and that proper address to the Public 
may be annexed explanatory of their Institution, representing the 
losses of Columbia College and the deranged state of its funds and 
requesting the aid of the Public by voluntary subscriptions to carry 
their plan into full execution. That proper persons in each county 
throughout the State be applied to and requested personally to 
solicit subscriptions for this purpose, and that an application be 



Annals OF Public Education. 237 

made to the Legislature to grant them an aid by a tax on marriage 
licences or any other mode they may think proper. 

Which report being read and considered the recommendations 
therein contained were agreed to and adopted by the Board, in con- 
sequence thereof. Ordered that a Committee be appointed to let out 
the lots which surround the present area of Columbia College, and 
that the said Committee consist of the Secretary, the Treasurer and 
Dr. Bard. 

Ordered, also, that the Treasurer immediately insist upon a set- 
tlement of all accounts and demands subsisting between the Univer- 
sity and any person whatsoever, except such accounts as may appear 
against Leonard Lispenard Esq''^ as a late Treasurer of King's Col- 
lege, in which Settlement the interest which may be due if not 
paid to be made principal, and the whole secured by Mortgages, on 
real property to be approved of by the following Committee and 
that the said Treasurer in case of refusal by any person to make 
such settlement and give such security shall commence and prose- 
cute suits for the recovery of the monies due from the persons so 
refusing. 

That M'' Mason, M"" Hamilton and M"" Treasurer be a Committee 
to settle the aforesaid accounts of the said Leonard Lispenard and 
to report such allowance as it shall appear to them proper to make 
him for his services as Treasurer to the late King's College. 

Also, that the above Committee consider and report such appli- 
cations as shall be made for abatements of such demands as the 
University may have against the persons indebted thereto, with 
power to the Treasurer to suspend prosecutions in such cases as 
shall appear to them to require such suspension until the sense of 
the Regency shall be known thereupon. 

The Board adjourned till to-morrow Evening at Y o'clock. 



At a Meeting of the Regents at the Assembly Chamber in the 
Exchange in the City of I^ew York, on Tuesday the 5th April, 1785. 

Present — Mr. Speaker of the Assembly, President. 
Mr. Mayor op New York, 
Mr. Secretary of the State, 
Mr. Treasurer of University, 
Mr. Secretary D° 

Mr. Yates, Dr. Pomaynb, 

3fr. Christ^ Yates, Dr. Treat, 

Mr. Gross, Mr. Lispenard, 

CoV. Hamilton, Dr. Kiss am, 

Dr. RoDGERs, Mr. Cochran, 

Dr. Cochran, Dr. Bard, 

Dr. KuNZE, Mr. Moore, 

Dr. McKnight, Dr. Crosby. 



238 University Convocation. 

The Committee appointed to see the Bye Laws of the late Col- 
lege of ISTew York put into execution, as far as Circumstances 
would permit, &''. signified to the Board that they had considered 
the said laws, made such alterations therein as to them appeared 
necessary, and were ready to report. Wliich being agreed to, a 
sett of laws for the interior government of Columbia College were 
read by Paragraphs amended and agreed to, and were ordered to be 
recorded. 

But it being suggested that those laws were somewhat imperfect 
as to style and composition, it was agreed by the Board that they 
should be delivered to the Professor of Rhetoric, which was accord- 
ingly done, and consequently could not be inserted in this place. 



At a Meeting of the Kegents of the University at the Assembly 
Chamber in the Exchange in New York, on Wednesday, the 6th 
day of April, 1785. 

Present — The Honble David Gelston Esq. Speaker of the 

Assembly, 

The Treasurek, Dr. Jones, 

The Secretary, Mr. Gano, 

Dr. Livingston, Dr. Treat, 

Dr. KuNziE, Dr. Kissam, 

Mr. Gros, Dr. Bard, 

Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Cochran. 
Dr. McKnight, 

The Committee for preparing a plan of Education for the Students 
of Columbia College signifying that they were ready to report, 
were permitted and their plan considered and agreed to by the 
Board. 



Agreeable to the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor, the Regents 
met at the Assembly Chamber in the Exchange in the City of New 
York, on Monday the 27th day of June, 1785. 

Present — Mr. Secretary op the State, 

Mr. Treasurer, Mr. Gross, 

Mr. Secretary, Dr. Cochran, 

Dr. Livingston, Mr. Tetard, 

Dr. RoMAiNE, Dr. Crosby, 

Mr. Mason, Mr. Cochran. 

The yice-Chancellor being absent, the Secretary of the State 
being the member present, first nominated in the Act, was called 
to the Chair and took it accordingly. 

It was then moved that Mr. Mayor Duane, Mr. Treasurer Living- 
ston and CoP Hamilton be a Committee to inspect the Charter of the 
late King' s College relative to the power therein granted respecting 



Annals of Public Ebvcation. 239 

the leasing in fee or selling lots of land or Water Lots belonging to 
the said College. 

The Petition of John Kingsland of this City praying a Grant 
in fee of a Water lot was read and committed to the same Com- 
mittee. 

Mr. Harpur acquainting the Board how a certain Jesse Brockway 
having applied to several of the Members for the purchase of a lott 
of land in Ulster County, the property of Columbia College by 
Conveyance from Edward Willett to the late Governors of the said 
College then called King's College, bearing date the 16*^ February 
1775, who desired that an appraisement of the said land should be 
made under the direction of Gen^ James Clinton which being done 
and returned, and Mr. Brockway having deposited with Mr. Harpur 
a part of the purchase money, being willing to take the said land at 
the appraised value. It is submitted to the Regents for their 
approbation. 

Whereupon^ Ordered, That Mr. Brockway's Case be also com- 
mitted to the Committee last aforesaid. 

Ordered, That the Treasurer be and he is hereby authorized and 
required to pay Quarterly out of the Public monies he may have in 
his hands the Salaries of such Officers of the Corporation as now 
are or hereafter may be ascertained by the Resolutions of this Board 
without any warrant from the Chancellor for his so doing, any 
former resolution to the contrary notwithstanding. 

Then the Board adjourned to meet at the same place on Thursday 
next at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. 



The Regents met pursuant to Adjournment, Thursday the 30th 
June 1785. 

Present — The Mayor or New York, President, 

Mr. Treasurer, Mr. Tetard, 

Mr. Secretary, Mr. Moore, 

Dr. Rogers, Mr. Cochran, 

Mr. Mason, Dr. Kunzie, 

Dr. Gros, Mr. Romatne, 

The Examination of the Students of Columbia College being to 
be held on Monday next, and that day being the Anniversary ol 
the Independence. 

Ordered, That the said Examination be postponed until the "Wed- 
nesday next following thereafter. 

On representation of the Mayor that application had been made 
to him for leave to erect a House on the North East corner of the 
College Ground in this City for the reception of one of the Fire 
Engines, 

Ordered, That leave be given accordingly. 



240 University Convocation. 

On Motion, Resolved, That Mr. Gros, Dr. Kunzie, Mr. Moore, Dr. 
Roarers and Mr. Cochran be a Committee to revise the laws of Col- 
umbia College, and to report such amendments thereon as in their 
opinion will be necessary. 

Resolved, That it shall be the duty of the Treasurer and Secretary 
to cause the Seal of this Corporation to be affixed to the Letter of 
Attorney directed to be transmitted for the recovery of the legacy 
bequeathed to the College by the late Major Edward Clark, and to 
Buch leases as the Committee of this Corporation are authorized to 
grant of the Grounds surrounding the College. 

Then the Board adjourned till Tuesday next. 



Tuesday the 5th July 1785. 
The number of Members met being not sufficient to proceed to 
business, A Notification was given to the members in this City to 
meet on the 11th Instant, 



At a meeting of the Regents at the Assembly Chamber in the Ex- 
change in the City of New York Monday the 11th July, 1T85. 

Present — The Mayor of New York, President, 

The Secretary, Dr. Cochran, 

Dr. Livingston, />/'. Kunzie, 

Dr. Rogers, Dr. Bard, 

Mr. Gros, Dr. Crosby, 

Mr. Gano, Mr. Cochran, 

The Committee to whom it was referred to consider of a proper 
Salary to be allowed to the Messenger of University, 

Report that they conceive £18 per Annum a proper compensation 
to Mr. Kip the present Messenger for his past services in that station, 
and at the same time recommend it to the Regents to unite this office in 
future with that of the Porter to Columbia College and that a Salary 
of £25 per annum be fixed to the two offices thus united. 

Resolved, That the Professors in the said College inform Mr. Kip 
the Messenger, that from the time of his appointment to this day he 
is allowed at the rate of £18 per annum and for the time to come, 
should he choose to continue, that this Board will allow him at the 
rate of £12 per annum. 

That the Treasurer advance to the said Professors a sum not ex- 
ceeding £10 for defi'aying the contingent expenses of the said College, 
for Avhich they are to account. 

The Committee appointed to revise &c the Laws of the said Col- 
lege reported that they had considered of some amendments there- 
to, which being submitted were read, and the said laws and amend- 
ments proposed being fully considered and agreed to, 



Annals of Public Education, 241 

Resolved, that the Secretary cause 1000 Copies of the said laws 
with the Plan of Education annexed to be printed in Octavo, and 
that the Treasurer defray the expense thereof.' 



At a meeting of the Regents at the Exchange in the City of New 
York on Monday the 29th August 1785. 

Present — Mr. Harpur, in the Chair, Mr, Mason, 

Dr. Livingston, Mr. Moore, 

Dr. Rogers, Mr. Hamilton, 

Dr. Cochran, Mr. Cochran, 

Mr. Seixas, Dr. Bard, 

Dr. Kunzie, Mr. Dongan, 

Mr. Gross, Dr. 

Mr. Tetard, 

The Yice Chancellor being absent, and Mr. Harpur being the 
Member present first nominated in the Act was called to and took 
the Chair. 

A letter from Mr. John Watts was read respecting the money in 
England belonging to Columbia College. 

On Dr. Bard's motion. 

Ordered., That a letter be written to Mr. Watts thanking him 
for the care and attention he has paid to the interest of the College 
in this instance and that Col. Hamilton and the Treasurer be a 
Committee for that purpose. 

Also that Dr. Bard be added to the Committee of Repairs and 
that the said Committee take measures without delay to complete 
the repairs of Columbia College by contract. 

That the Treasurer be ordered to draw for the money aforesaid, 
now in England, at such time and in such manner as he shall think 
most for the advantage of the Institution ; so as the Bills he shall 
draw be payable within a period not exceeding six months from the 
date hereof. 

That the making of the Porters Lodge comfortable be considered 
as a part of the repairs of the College, and that his Salary be and 
it is hereby fixed at twenty pound'^ per annum, to commence from 
the time of the opening of the said College in the preceding year. 

Dr. Kuntz moved that the Board should take into consideration 
the propriety of annexing a Salary to the Professorship of Oriental 
Languages. On motion of Dr. Bard, the Board determined that 
the consideration of this question should be postponed to a future 
day. 

' We have not seen a copy of this publication, but find it (or possibly a subse- 
quent edition) mentioned in the Catalogue of the New York Historical Society, 
by this title and description: " The Statutes of Columbia College, in New York, 
8 vo., pp. 14, and Plan of Education — broadside." We hope to be able to include 
a copy of this publication in our " Annals" of Columbia College. 
31 



242 University Convocation. 

Then the Board adjourned till Monday the 5th of September next 
at 6 o'clock in the afternoon to meet at the same place. 



The Board of Eegents met according to adjournment on Monday 
the 5th of September 1785, at the Exchange and removed to the 
House of Dr. Bard. 

Present — Mr. Treasuker, Dr. Romayne, 

Mr. Secretary, Col. Hamilton, 

Dr. Rogers, Dr. Bard, 

Mr. Mason, Mr. Cochran, 

Mr. Jay, 
The Vice-President being absent, and Mr. Treasurer Livingston 
being the member present next named in the Act was called to and 
took the Chair. 

On Motion, Besolved, That Col. Hamilton, the Treasurer and Dr. 
Bard be a Committee to adopt such measures as they may think 
proper for the recovery of the money in the hands of Mr. Watts 
in London, and to indemnify all persons concerned, and that the 
Secretary be authorized to annex the Seal of this Corporation to 
such Instruments as the Committee shall think necessary. 

Resolved, That the Treasurer advance to the Committee of 
Repairs such sums of money from time to time as they may require 
for the necessary repairs of Columbia College. 

Resolved, That Mr. Gros, Dr. Bard and Mr. Cochran be a Com- 
mittee to superintend the Stewardship of the said College, with 
power to draw upon the Treasury for a sum not exceeding Twenty 
pounds to be applied at the discretion of the said Committee. 



At a Meeting of the Regents of the University, at the Exchange 
in the City of New York on Tuesday the 28th of February 1786. 

Present — Lieu^ Gov^ Cortlandt, in the Chair, 



The Mayor of New York, 


Mr. I. Livingston, 


Ths Treasurer, 


Mr. Wisner, 


The Secretary, 


Mr. Moore. 


Dr. Rogers, 


Dr. Livingston, 


Mr. Mason, 


Dr. Bard, 


Dr. KuNZE, 


Mr. Cochran, 


Mr. Gros, 


Mr. Jay, 


Dr. Cochran, 


Mr. LocKwooD, 


Dr. Jones, 


Mr. Provost, 


Mr. L'Hommedieu, 


Mr. Beach, 


Dr. ROMAYNE, 


Col}. Hamilton, 


The Seo^ of the State, 


Col^. Lewis, 


His ExceW the Gov"". 


Genl. Morris, 



Annals of Public Education. ^ 243 

A letter from Dr. Moyes dated the 21** of January last signifying 
his resignation of the Offices to which he was appointed by this 
Corporation, was read, and his resignation accepted accordingly. 

A letter from Mr. Richard Grant dated at Kingston the 23'''^ of 
October last was read, and considered, and thereupon, 

Ordered, That an Exemplification under the Great Seal of this 
State, of Letters of Attorney from this Corporation, be forwarded 
to the said Richard Grant, authorizing and empowering him to 
receive the legacy bequeathed to them by the late Major Edward 
Clark, as also an Exemplification of the Act of the Legislature of 
this State entitled "An Act for granting certain privileges to the 
College heretofore called King's College for altering the name and 
Charter thereof, and erecting an University within this State," 
passed the 1'* day of May 1784. 

The Report of the Committee for leasing certain lots of Ground 
belonging to Columbia College was read, and after some debates 
thereon, Mr Mason moved that the farther consideration thereof be 
postponed, and that in the meantime, a state of the Finances of the 
said College together with its Expenditures and Wants be laid 
before the Legislature at their present Meeting ; to which the Board 
agreeing, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Jay, CoP. Hamilton, Mr. Harpur and Dr. 
Bard were accordingly appointed a Committee for that purpose. 

On Motion of D'' Livingston, Ordei^ed, That a Committee be 
appointed to consider of Ways and Means of promoting literature 
throughout the State, and that D"^ Livingston, D"^ Rogers, M' Mason, 
Gen' Schuyler, M'' Peter W. Yates, M"" Brockholst Livingston, 
Gen' Morris, M'' Wisner, M'' Haring, M"" James Livingston, M"" John, 
M' Dongan, M'" Clarkson, M'^ Townsend, M'' L'Hommedieu, and 
M'' Williams be a Committee for that purpose. 

Ordered, That M'' Jay, M' Hamilton and M' Lewis, be a Commit- 
tee to enquire into the circumstances respecting the tender made by 
M'^ Robert C. Livingston of monies due this Corporation to M' Lis- 
penard the late Treasurer of King's College. 

It being Suggested to the Board that M"^ Tetard Professor of the 
French Language, is reported to have become insane and incapable 
of performing the duties of his Office, On Motion of M"" Hamilton, 

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to enquire into and 
report the situation of Mr. Tetard. And that D' Bard, M' 
Cochran, M"" Moore, M"" Gros, D' Kenzie, D'' Cochran and D' 
Jones, be a Committee, for that purpose. 

M"" Duane nominated M"" John Kemp as Professor of Mathe- 
matics in Columbia College. 

Then the Board adjourned till Tuesday next to meet at the 
same place at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. 



244 University Convocation. 

At a Meeting of the Kegents at the Exchange in the City of 
New York, on Wednesday, the 7'** day of March, 1786. 

Pbesent — His Honor the Mayor of New York, in the Chair. 

Mr. Livingston, Mr. Dongan, 

Mr. Mason, ^ Mr. Livingston, 

Mr. Geos, ' Mr. Lewis, 

Mr. Peovost, The Treasueee, 

Mr. Pell, The Seceetaey, 

Mr. WisNEE, Mr. McKnight, 

Mr. Gano, Mr. Claekson, 

Mr. L'Hommedieu, Mr. Kissam, 
Mr. Seceetaey of the State. Mr. Vandeebilt, 

Mr. Russell, Mr. Cochean, 

Mr. Jones, Mr. Baed, 

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Cochean, 

On Motion of Mr. Lewis, seconded by Mr. Gros, 

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to revise the By-Laws^ 
and to report such amendments as they may conceive necessary for 
the internal Government of Columbia College, and that Mr. Lewis, 
Dr. Bard, Mr. Gros, Mr. Cochran, and Gen^ Morris or any three 
of them be a Committee for that purpose. 

Then the Board adjourned to meet at the same place on Tuesday 
next at 6 o'clock in the afternoon. 



At a Meeting of the Regents of the University of the State of 
New York at the Exchange in the City of New York on Tuesday 
the 14**^ of March 1786 at 6 o'clock p. m. 

Present — The ^o/i^^® Pieeee Y. Cortland, Esquire, President^ 
Dr. DuANE, Dr. Beach, 

Dr. Claekson, Dr. Cochran, 

Dr. Livingston, Dr. Baed, 

Dr. Haepue, Dr. Russell. 

It being inconvenient for the Regents to proceed to business this 
Evening at this place, the Board adjourned to meet immediately in 
the Senate Chamber. 



At a Meeting of the Regents in the Senate Chamber on Tuesday, 
the 14*^ March 1786 at 7 o'clock p. m. 



Annals of Public Education. 245 

Pbbsbnt — The Hon. Pierre Yan Cortlandt, Esquire, President. 

Mr. DuANE, His ExcellenGy the Governor 

Dr. KoGERS, Col. Hamilton, 

Dr. Livingston, Col. Clarkson, 

Mr. Mason, Mr. Lansing, Speaker of the 

Mr. Gros, Assembly^ 

Mr. Morris, Mr. Williams, 

Dr. Cochran, Mr. Provoost, 

Dr. McKniqht, Mr. Dongan, 

Mr. L'HoMMEDiEU Dr. Jones, 

Mr. Lewis, Mr. Russell, 

Dr. KuNZiE, Dr. Bard, 

Mr. Treasurer, Mr. Cochran. 
Mr. Secretary, 

The Committee to whom was referred the application of Robert 
C. Livingston, Esq. Report, 

That they have enquired into the circumstances of the Tendei 
alleged by him and find from the account given of them by Mr. 
Leonard Lispenard that they were as follows. 

Sometime in the Spring of the year 1776 a person of the name of 
Van Buren called upon Mr. Lispenard and put a paper in his hand 
of the following purport viz*. 

"Call upon Mr. Lispenard and inform him you wait upon him for 
"the purpose of discharging Messers. Rob't. C. and Walter Living- 
"ston's bond due to the Governors of King's College if he should 
"refuse to take Congress money, you are then to take two witnesses 
"with you and make him a tender of it in their presence." 

Mr. Lispenard replied, that he had received directions from the 
Governors of King's College to be cautious in receiving Congress 
money and that if he the said Van Buren should call with the wit- 
nesses and the money, he the said Lispenard would refuse to receive it. 

That the said Van Buren went away and did not return again ; 
Mr, Lispenard adds that he does not know whether the said Van 
Buren had the money with him at the time he called or not but 
tie offered none. 

These facts are respectfully submitted to the Regency by Alex- 
ander Hamilton. 

On Motion of Mr. Lewis seconded by Mr. Clarkson, 
Resolved, That under the particular circumstances stated in the 
foregoing report, the interest on the Bond therein mentioned be 
remitted from the fifteenth day of September in the year 1776 until 
the twentyfifth day of November in the year 1783. 

On motion of Mr. Duane, Ordered, That the Public Exhibition 
of the Candidates for Degrees in Columbia College at the ensuing 
Commencement be in St. Paul's Church in this Cit}'. 

Adjourned to meet at the Senate Chamber on Tuesday next at 
6 o'clock in the afternoon. 



246 University Convocation. 

At a Meeting of the Kegents according to adjournment, 

Present — His Excellency the Governor, Dr. Cochran, 

Mr. Russell, CoV. Hamilton, 

Mr. Cochran, Mr. Secretary, 

Dr. Bard, Mr. Williams, 

The Secretary of the State, Mr. Lewis, 

The Board finding it inconvenient to proceed to business at this 
place. 

Adjourned to meet immediately in the Assembly Chamber at the 
Exchange. 

At a Meeting of the Regents of the University of the State of New 
York at the Assembly Chamber in the Exchange on Tuesday the 
21«* of March 1Y86. 
Present — His Honor the Mayor of New York, President. 
Dr. Livingston, Mr. Secretary, 

Dr. Rogers, Col. Hamilton, 

Mr. Mason, Mr. Russell, 

Dr. Kunze, Mr. Williams, 

Mr. Gros, Dr. Cochran, 

Col. Lewis, Col. Clarkson. 

Mr. Treasurer, 
Resolved., That the Rev. Mr. Provost, Doctor Livingston, Doctor 
Rogers, and the Rev. Mr. Mason, together with the Professors of 
Columbia College or any five of them, be a committee to superin- 
tend the ensuing Commencement, who instead of a Diploma for 
the Degree of Batchelor of Arts, shall present each Student admissi- 
ble to that degree with a Certificate under the Seal of the Corporation 
signed by the Secretary certifying that he is entitled to the Degree 
of Batchelor of Arts to be conferred as soon as a President shall 
be appointed for Columbia College, and that the said Committee 
prepare a Certificate for that purpose. 

The Memorials of Jacobus Van Zandt, &c., and James Barclay 
were read and committed to Colonel Lewis, Col^ Hamilton and 
Doctor Cochran. 

Then the Board adjourned to meet at the same place on Tuesday 
next at 6 o'clock in the afternoon. 



At a Meeting of the Regents of the University of the State of New 
York at the Assembly Chamber in the Exchange on Tuesday the 
28*'' of March 1786. 
Present — His Honor the Mayor of New York, President. 
Dr. Livingston, Mr. Lewis, 

Dr. Treat, Mr, Harpur, 

Mr. Gros, Mr. Russell, 

Mr. Provost, Dr. Bard, 

Mr. Hamilton. Mr. Cochran. 



Annals of Public Education. 2A1 

At a meeting of the Regents on the 4**^ April last it being agreed 
to issue £200 Sterling to the Professor of Natural Philosophy in 
order to purchase a Philosophical Apparatus, and Dr. Bard signify- 
ing to this Board that the said Apparatus has accordingly been 
purchased and received by him, moved that a Committee be appoint- 
ed to audit his Account of Expenses relative thereto, and Dr. 
Treat, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Harpur were accordingly appointed a 
Committee for that purpose. 

The necessity for some instruments for the use of the mathemat- 
ical Class in Columbia College being suggested, 

On Motion, Ordered., That the Treasurer advance to Mr. Kemp 
a sum not exceeding 12 Guineas to purchase such instruments as 
are specified in a list thereof signed by his Honor the Mayor of New 
York and that Mr. Kemp account with the Treasurer for the expen- 
diture of the said monies. 

Dr. Bard moved, and was seconded by Mr. Harpur, that a Com- 
mittee be appointed for granting the water lots belonging to Columbia 
College. 

On Motion of Mr. Hamilton, Resolved., That the consideration 
of the aforegoing Motion be postponed to the next Meeting of the 
Board. 

Resolved., That a Committee be appointed to enquire into the 
present circumstances of the lands belonging to Columbia College 
in the North Eastern parts of this State and report ways and means 
to render them beneficial to the said College. 

Accordingly Mr. Harpur, Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Lewis were 
appointed a Committee for that purpose. 

On Motion of Mr. Harpur, Resolved., That the salary of Gasper 
Hart the present porter of Columbia College shall commence 
on the 22"^ day of June 1784 that being the day on which he first 
took possession of the Lodge. 

Then the Board adjourned to meet at the same place on Tuesday 
next at 6 o'clock in the afternoon. 



At a Meeting of the Regents of the University of the State of 

New York at the Exchange the 4*'' of April, 1786. 

Present — His Honor the Mayor of New York, President. 
Mr. Rogers, Mr. Harpur, 

Mr. Treat, Mr. Hamilton, 

Mr. KissAM, Mr. Seixas, 

Mr. Gros, Mr. Provost, 

Mr. Bard, Mr. Cochran, 

Mr. Mason, Mr. Williams. 

On Motion of Dr. Rogers, Resolved., That the consideration of 

granting the Water lots belonging to Columbia College and the 



248 University Convocation. 

Election of a Professor of Mathematics be postponed to the next 
Meeting of the Board, and that the Messenger notify the members 
accordingly. 

Besolved, Also that DeWitt Clinton, Philip H. Livingston, 
George Livingston, Abraham Hun, John Bassett, Peter Stedivord, 
Francis Sylvester and Samuel Smith, Students of the Senior Class 
in Columbia College receive Certificates of their being entitled to a 
Batchelors Degree at the ensuing Commencement, agreeable to the 
resolution of the 21** March last. 

Adjourned to meet on next Monday afternoon at 7 o'clock. 



At a Meeting of the Regents of the University of the State of 
New York at the Assembly Chamber in the Exchange on Monday 
the lO*'' day of April, 1786. 

Pkesent — His Honor the Mayor of New York, President. 

Mr. Livingston, Mr. Dungan, 

Mr. Rogers, Mr. Provost, 

Mr. Mason, Mr. Kunzie, 

Mr. Gros, Mr. Cochran, 

Mr. Seixas, Mr. W. Livingston, 

Mr. Treasurer, Mr. Clarkson, 

Mr. Secretary, Mr. Williams, 

Mr. L'HoMMEDiEU, Mr. Bard, 

Mr. Lewis, Mr. Cochran, 

Mr. Clinton, Mr. Russell. 

Dr. Bard having at the last Meeting of the Regency intimated 
his intention to resign his Office of Professor of Natural Philosophy 
and Astronomy in Columbia College, and at this Meeting having 
formally proposed the same 

Mr. Harpur moved and was seconded by Mr. L'Hommedieu that 
Dr. Bard's resignation be accepted, as an amendment to which Mr. 
Lewis moved, seconded by Dr. Jones, that the consideration of Mr. 
Harpur's motion be postponed to the next meeting of the Board 
which was carried in the affirmative. 

Mr. Lewis also moved that the consideration of the Election of a 
Professor of Mathematics be further postponed which was also 
agreed to. 

And on Motion of Dr. Rogers, 

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed consisting of the Treas- 
urer, Mr. Lewis and the Secretary, to lay before the Board a state 
of the funds of Columbia College, in order to know whether they 
will admit of the Appointment of a Mathematical Professor a& 
well as a Professor for the said College. 

Adjourned till Monday next at 7 o'clock in the Evening. 



Annals of Public Education. 249 

At a Meeting of the Kegents of the University of the State of 
New York at the Exchange on Monday the 17"* of April, 1786. 
Present — His Honor the Mayor of New York, President. 
Mr. Rogers, Mr. Clarkson, 

Mr. Cochran, Mr. Hamilton, 

Mr. Mason, Mr. Gros, 

Mr. Treasurer, Mr. Romayne, 

Mr. Secretary, Mr. Cochran, 

Mr. Vanderbilt, Mr. McKnight. 

The Board taking into consideration the business of granting the 
Water lots belonging to Columbia College, on Motion of Dr. Rogers 

Resolved^ That the said lots be granted. That a Committee be 
appointed and instructed to grant them in fee or for a shorter time, 
and upon such rents and considerations as to them shall appear 
most advantageous to the said College, and that the Mayor, the 
Secretary, the Treasurer, Mr. Hamilton and Dr. Romaine, or any 
three of them be a Committee for that purpose. 

On application in behalf of granting in fee a certain lot of land in 
Ulster County to Jesse Brock way, 

Ordered^ That the Secretary affix the Seal of the Corporation 
to a Conveyance in fee of the said lot of land, agreeable to the terms 
at which it was appointed by the direction of General James Clinton. 

On Motion of the Treasurer it was agreed that Dr. Bard's resig- 
nation of the Professorship of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy 
should be accepted. 

Then Col. Hamilton nominated Dr. Bard to the Professorship 
of Chemistry in Columbia College. 

On Motion of the Treasurer, 

Resolved, That Mr. John Kemp be, and he is hereby appointed 
Professor of Mathematics in the said College. 

Resolved^ Also that Mr. Kemp be requested to perform the duties 
of a Professor of Natural Philosophy until a Professor thereof be 
appointed and as a compensation for his extra services herein, that 
£50 per annum be added to his Salary as Professor of the 
Mathematics. 

Then the Board adjourned to meet on Monday Evening next at 
7 o'clock in the Assembly Room in the Exchange. 



At a Meeting of the Regents of the University of the State of 
New York at the Assembly Chamber in the Exchange on Monday 
the 24*^ of April 1786. 

Present — His Honor the Mayor of New York, President., 
Mr. Livingston, Mr. Clarkson, 

Mr. Rogers, Mr. Hamilton, 

Mr. Mason, Mr. Secretary, 

Mr. Cochran, Mr. Kemp. 

Mr. Romaine, 
32 



250 University Convocation. 

On Motion of Dr. Rogers, Seconded by Mr. Harpur, 

Resolved., That the Rev^. Johan Daniel Gros, Professor of Geog- 
raphy in Columbia College, for his past services in teaching Moral 
Philosophy in the said College, be allowed the sum of £50 and 
that he be requested to continue to perform the duties of that Office 
until a Professor thereof shall be appointed for which the sum of 
£50 per annum shall be and is hereby added to his present Salary. 

Mr. Kent [Kemp] signifying his acceptance of the Natural Phi- 
losophy Class, 

Resolved.) That Dr. Bard the late professor of that Science be 
requested to deliver the Philosophical Apparatus into the hands of 
Mr. Kemp, and that Mr, Kemp deliver a list of the same to the 
Secretary of the University. 

Ordered., That a Committee be appointed to visit and attend the 
Quarterly Examinations of Columbia College, and also to report on 
the propriety of the continuance of a Grammar School there, and 
that Dr. Rogers, Mr. Mason, Mr. Mayor, Dr. Livingston, Dr. Coch- 
ran and Mr. Clarkson, be a committee for that purpose. 

Adjourned sine die. 



At a Meeting of the Regents of the University at the Assembly 
Chamber in the City of New York the 31^' day of January 1787, 
by appointment of the Yice Chancellor. 

Present — The Matob of New York, President., 

Dr. Rogers, Mt. Bache, 

Dr. Mason, Mr. Seixas, 

The Treasurer, Mr. Clarkson, 

The Secretary, Dr. Cochran, 

Mr. Gros, Mr. Kemp, 

Dr. RoMAiNE, Mr. Cochran, 

Dr. Crosby, Mr. Bard, 

Dr. Jones, Mr. Smith, 

On Motion of the Treasurer, that a committee be appointed to 
advise with him in putting out to interest on land security such sums 
of money as may from time to time be in the Treasury. It was agreed 
to, and Mr. Mayor, Gen^ Clarl^son and the Secretary were appoint- 
ed a Committee for that purpose. 

On Motion of Mr. Cochran, 

Resolved., That the Committee of Repairs be empowered to pro- 
cure a bell for the use of Columbia College and that the Steward 
be directed to purchase four Cords of wood annually, for the use of 
the Public rooms in the said College and that the Treasurer be and 
he is hereby authorized to defray the expense thereof out of the 
Treasury of the University. 

Resolved., That a Committee be appointed to take into considera- 
tion the present state of the University and to report as soon as 



Anjsals of Public Education. 251 

possible the measures necessary to be adopted to carry into effect the 
views of the Legislature with respect to the same and particularly 
with respect to Columbia College, and that Mr. Mayor, Mr. Jay, 
Dr. Rogers, Dr. Mason, Dr. Livingston, Gen^ Clarkson, Mr. Gros, 
and Mr. Hamilton be a Committee for that purpose. 

It was then moved by Dr. Mason that as the funds of Colum- 
bia College do not at present admit of supporting a Professorship of 
the French language, that the said Professorship be abolished. 

Ordered, That the consideration of this motion be and it is hereby 
postponed till the next meeting. 

Then the Board adjourned to meet at the same place on Thurs- 
day the 8th of February at 6 o'clock. 



At a Meeting of the Regents of the University of this State, held 
at the Assembly Chamber in New York on Thursday the S**" Feb- 
ruary, 1787. 

Pkesent — The Mayor of New York, in the Chair. 
Dr. Rogers, Mr. Gros, 

Dr. Mason, Col. Humphrey, 

The Treasurer, Mr. Kemp, 

The Secretary, Mr. Cochran, 

Dr. Rogers from the Committee appointed last meeting to take into 
consideration the present state of the University, etc., reported that 
they had made some progress in the business committed to them, 
and requested leave to sit again, which being agreed to, the Board 
adjourned to Thursday next to meet again at the same place at 6 
o'clock in the evening. 



[In Senate,] 

February 8, 1787. 

A Petition of Samuel Buell, Nathaniel Gardiner, and David Mul- 
ford, in behalf of themselves and others. Founders of an Academy 
at East Hampton, in Suffolk County, was read, and committed to 
Mr. L'Hommedieu, Mr. Tredwell, * Mr. Stoutenburgh, ^ and Mr. 
Yanderbilt. 

The first named petitioner, Samuel Buell, and the first and 
fourth named on the Committee, Mr. L'Hommedieu and Mr. Yan- 
derbilt, were appointed Regents in 1784, 

^ Thomas Tredwell, of the Southern District. 
' Isaac Stoutenburgh, of the Southern District. 



252 University Convocation. 

[In the Boakd of Regents.] 

At a Meeting of the Regents of the University at the Assembly 
Chamber in the city of New York, on Thursday, the 16*^ day of 
February, 1787. 

Present — The Speaker of the Assembly, in the Chair. 
The Mayor of New York, Dr. Cochran, 
Dr. Rogers, Dr. Jones, 

Dr. Livingston, Dr. Crosby, 

Dr. Mason, Dr. Bard, 

Col. Humphrey, Dr. Kissam, 

Dr. RoMAiNE, Mr. Williams, 

The Treasurer, Mr. Russell, 

The Secretary, Mr. Gano, 

Mr. LocKwooD, Mr. Cochran, 

Mr. Smith, Mr. Kemp. 

The Committee (appointed the 31st of January last) consisting of 
the Mayor, Mr. Jay, Dr. Rogers, Dr. Mason, Dr. Livingston, Gen^ 
Clarkson, Mr. Gros, and Mr. Hamilton, to take into consideration 
the present state of the University, and to report as soon as possi- 
ble the measures necessary to be adopted to carry into effect the 
views of the Legislature with respect to the same, and particularly 
with respect to Columbia College. 

Report that they have taken the important subject committed to 
them under deliberate consideration and attentively examined the 
several acts of the Legislature, granting certain privileges to the 
College in the City of New York and erecting an University and 
beg leave with due deference to submit their sentiments thereupon 
to the Regents. 

First. With respect to the University — It appears to your Com- 
mittee that the acts by which it is constituted are defective and 
require amendment in the following particulars. Although in the 
first instance the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor of the Uni- 
versity are eligible by the Regents, no provision is made for supplying 
the vacancies which may happen in either of those ottices. No effectual 
means are appointed for the convening of the Regents. The right 
of adjournment is unascertained. The annual meetings prescribed 
by the first Act are not sufficiently definite. The presiding Regent 
at any meeting in the absence of the official Regents is not accurately 
described. These are objections in point of form evidently occas- 
ioned by the haste in which the Act must have been prepared 
amidst the multiplicity of business which employed the attention of 
the Legislature during their first Sessions after the peace. But your 
Committee are of opinion that to render the University beneficial 
according to the liberal views of the Legislature alterations will 
also be necessary in the substance of its constitution. At present 
the Regents are the only Body Corporate for literary purposes. In 
them are not only the funds, but the government and direction of 
evei-y College are exclusively vested, while from their dispersed situ- 



Annals of Public Education. 253 

ation it must be out of their power to bestow all the care and attention 
which are peculiarly necessary for the well being and prosperity of 
such Institutions. Experience has already shown that Regents 
living remote from each other cannot with any convenience form a 
Board for business. The remedy adopted by the second act was to 
reduce the quorum to a small number, but thus placing the rights of 
every College in the hands of a few Individuals, your committee have 
reason to believe excited jealousy and dissatisfaction when the 
interest of literature require that all should be united. These reasons 
without entering into a more full discussion your committee con- 
ceive to ground their opinion that each respective College ought to 
be entrusted to a distinct Corporation with competent powers and 
privileges, under such subordination to the Regents as shall be 
thought wise and Salutary. 

Secondly. Your Committee are of opinion that liberal pro- 
tection and encouragement ought to be given to academies for the 
instruction of youth in the languages and useful knowledge ; these 
academies though under the grade of Colleges are highly beneficial, 
but owing their establishment to private benevolences labor under 
disadvantages which ought to be removed, their property can only 
be effectually preserved and secured by vesting them in incorporated 
trustees. This act of justice to the benefactors and to the County 
Town wherein any such Institution may have taken place by fixing 
a permanent superintendence would greatly contribute to the Intro- 
duction of able teachers, and the preservation of the morals of the 
Students as well as their progress in learning. Your Committee 
also conceive that privileges may be granted to such academies which 
will render them more respectable, and be a strong encitemcnt to 
emulation and diligence both in the Teachers and Scholars. 

Your Committee beg leave to submit the dratt of a Bill for the 
purposes they have suggested to the consideration of the Regents, 
the provision which it details so fully explains the views and senti- 
ments of your Committee that it is needless to be more explicit in 
this report. But before your Committee conclude they feel them- 
selves bound in faithfulness to add that the erecting Public Schools 
for teaching reading, writing and arithmetic is an object of very 
great importance which ought not to be left to the discretion of 
private men but be promoted by public authority. Of so nmch 
knowledge no citizen ought to be dectitute and yet it is a reflection 
as true as it is painful that but too many of our youth are brought 
up in utter ignorance. This is a reproach under which we have 
long labored unmanei [?] by the example of our neighbors, who not 
leaving the education of their children to chance have widely diffused 
throughout their State a public provision for such instruction. 

Your Committee are sensible that the Regents are invested with 
no funds of which they have the disposal but they nevertheless 
conceive it to be their duty to bring the subject in view before the 
Honorable the Legislature who alone can provide a remedy. 
By order of the Committee, 

Jas. Duane, Chairman. 



254 University Convocation. 

JSesolved, That the President of this Board be requested to pre- 
sent to the Legislature in the name of the Regents of the University 
the Report of the Committee of the Regents now approved and 
confirmed and the Draft of the Bill accompanying the same. 

Then the Board adjourned to the 22*^ instant, to meet at the same 
place at 6 o'clock in the evening. 



[In Senate.] 

February 27, 1787. 

Mr. L'Hommedieu from the Committee to whom was referred 
the petition of Samuel Buell, Nathaniel Gardiner and David Mul- 
ford, for the incorporation of an Academy at East Hampton, and for 
other purposes, reported, that in the opinion of the Committee it 
will be proper that a bill should be ordered to be brought in, for 
erecting an University and for granting priviledges to Colleges and 
Academies within this State and^ for repealing the acts therein 
mentioned^ which report he read in his place and delivered the same 
in at the table where it was again read and agreed to by the Senate. 

Thereupon, Ordered^ That Mr. L'Hommedieu prepare and bring 
in a bill for that purpose. 

Mr. L'Hommedieu according to order brought in the said bill 
which was read the first time and ordered a second reading. 



February 28, 1787. 

The bill entitled. An act for erecting an University and for 
granting priviledges to Colleges and Academies within this State, 
and for repealing the acts therein mentioned, was read a second time 
and committed to a Committee of the Whole. 



March 1, 1787. 

Mr. Stoutenburgh, from the Committee of the Whole, on the 
bill entitled An act for erecting an University, [etc., as above,] 
reported, that they had made some progress in the bill, and that he 
was directed to move for leave to sit again. 

Ordered, That the Committee have leave to sit again. 

* * * * 

The same entry as the above, for March 1, appears on the Senate 
Journal for March 6th, 7th and 8th respectively. 



Annals of Public Education. 255 

[In The Board of Regents.] 

At a Meeting of the Regents of the University of this State held 
at the Assembly Chamber in the Exchange in New York on Thurs- 
day the 1^' of March 1787. 
Pep:sent — Mr. Livingston in the Chair. 

Mr. Harpur, Mr. Kunzie, 

Mr. Mason, Mr. Bard, 

Mr. Gros, Mr. Livingston, 

Mr. Jones, Mr. Kemp, 

A Petition from Jacob Moore and others tenants of the Univer- 
sity was read, setting forth the expenses to which they are exposed 
in digging out Barclay Street and praying relief from the Regents 
as Proprietors of the ground adjacent thereto, which being considered 
Ordered^ That the same be committed to Dr. Bard and Mr. Har- 
pur, and that they enquire into the matter set forth in the said 
Petition and report to the Board at the next meeting. 

On Motion, Resolved., That Mr. Gros be requested to receive in 
future all such sums of money as are or shall become due to Colum- 
bia College from the Students thereof. 

Then the Board adjourned till Thursday the 8th instant to meet 
at the same place at 6 o'clock P. M. 



At a Meeting of the Regents of the University of the State of New 
York, held in the Assembly Chamber on Thursday the 8*^ day 
of March, 1787 
Present — Mr. Harpur in the Chair. 

Dr. Mason, Dr. Rogers, 

Dr. Livingston, Mr. Kemp, 

Dr. Kunzie, Mr. Cochran, 

Dr. Cochran, Mr. Russel, 

Mr. Williams, Dr. Bard, 

Mr. Jay, Dr. Jones, 

Mr. Smith, Col. Hamilton, 

Mr. Mayor. 
On Motion, Ordered., That the Treasurer pay to the Widow of 
John P. Tetard deceased the balance due to him as Professor of 
the French language in Columbia College to the day of his decease. 
That the Committee of repairs report an estimate of such repairs as 
are necessary to the Building and fence of Columbia College. 

That the Secretary affix the University Seal to the Report of 
the Committee of the Regency, to be presented to the Legislature. 
Resolved., That a Committee of six members of the Regency be 
appointed to consider of the most proper means for procuring an 
Act of the Legislature for amending the Charter of the University, 
either in conformity to the bill directed to be presented by the res- 



256 University Convocation. 

olution of the Board of the 15th of February last, or with such 
alterations as may be found necessary and that they report to the 
Regency at the next Meeting and that the Speaker of the 
Assembly, the Mayor of New York, Col. Hamilton, Mr. Williams, 
Mr. L'Hommedieu and Mr. Jay, be a Committee for that purpose. 

Ordered, That Marshals be hired to obey the directions of the 
Committee who shall be appointed to superintend the next Com- 
mencement. 

Adjourned' to Monday Evening next at 7 o'clock to meet at the 
same place. 



At a Meeting of the Regents on Monday the 12*'' March, 1787, at 
the Assembly Chamber. 

Present — The Speaker of the Assembly in the Chair. 

The Mayor of New York, Mr. Seixas, 

Dr. Rogers, , Mr. Russel, 

Dr. Mason, Mr. Gano, 

Mr. L'Hommedieu, Mr. C. Smith, 

Dr. McKnight, Dr. Jones, 

Col. Lewis, Mr. Cochran, 

Mr. Williams, Mr. Kemp, 

Mr. Harpur, Dr. Cochran. 

The Committee appointed to consider of the most proper means 
for procuring an Act of the Legislature for amending the Charter of 
the University reported that they had made some progress in the 
business, and requested leave to sit again which was agreed to. 

On Motion, Besolved, That the Mayor of New York, Ur. Rogers, 
Dr. Mason, Dr. Livingston and Mr. Bach together with the Pro- 
fessors of Columbia College or any five of them be a Committee to 
superintend the ensuing Commencement who instead of a Diploma 
for the degree of Batchelor of Arts shall present each Student ad- 
missable to that degree with a Certificate under the seal of the 
Corporation signed by the Secretary, certifying that he is entitled to 
the degree of Batchelor of Arts, to be conferred as soon as a Presi- 
dent shall be appointed for Columbia College and that the said 
Committee prepare a Certificate for that purpose. 

Adjourned till Thursday to meet at the same place at 7 o'clock. 



Annals OF Public Education. 257 

At a Meeting of the Regents of the University at the Assembly. 
Ohambers on Thursday the 15*^ of March, 178T. 

PiiBSENT — The Speaker of the Assembly in the Chair, 



The Mayor of New York, 


Dr. Jones, 


Mr. Livingston, 


Mr. Williams, 


Dr. Rogers, 


Mr. L'Hommedieu, 


Dr. Livingston 


Mr. Russell, 


Dr. Mason, 


Dr. Cochran, 


Dr. Kunzie, 


Mr. Seixas, 


Mr. Gros, 


Dr. Bard, 


Col. Hamilton, • 


Mr. Cochran, 


Mr. Harpur. 


Mr. Kemp. 



Colonel Hamilton from the Committee appointed to consider of 
the most proper means for procuring an Act of the Legislature for 
amending the Charter of the University reported a Bill to be laid 
before the Legislature which being read once was again read by 
paragraphs, and on coming to the clause wherein the names of a 
number of persons were inserted as trustees for Columbia College, 
Mr. L'Hommedieu, 

Moved that the name George Clinton be left out and after some 
debates thereon, the question being put, it passed in the negative 
thus. 

For the affirmative For the negative 

Mr. L'Hommedieu, Mr. Mayor, 

Col. Hamilton, Mr. Russel, 

Dr. Cochran, Dr. Bard, 

Mr. Harpur. Dr. Jones, 

Mr. Cochran, 
Mr. Kemp. 

The question was then put whether the Governor and Lieutenant 
Governor of the State for the time being should be left out of the 
Regency of the University which passed in the negative. 

The question was then put upon the bill and amendments and car- 
ried in the affirmative. 

Then the Board adjourned until Thursday next to meet at the 
same place at 7 o'clock P. M. 

[In Senate.] 

March 19th, 1787. 
* * * * 

Mr. Stoutenburgh from the Committee of the Whole on the bill 
entitled, ^71 act for erecting an University, [etc., as above], reported 
that they had gone through the bill, made amendments thereto, 
altered the title in the words folio wing, v^^s. An act to institute an 
University within this State and for other purposes therein men- 
tioned, and agreed to the same ; which report he read in his place 

33 



258 University Convocation. 

and delivered the bill with the amendments in at the table, where 
they were again read and agreed to by the Senate. Thereupon, 

Ordered, That the bill as amended be engrossed. 

* * * * 

March 'IQth, 1787. 
* * * * 

The engrossed bill entitled, An act to institute an University 
witJdn this State, and for other purposes therein mentioned, was 
read a third time. 

Resolved, That the bill do pass. 

Ordered, That Mr. Yan Ness' deliver the bill to the Honorable 
the Assembly, and request their concurrence. 



[In Assembly.] 



March 20th, 1787. 



A Message from the Honorable the Senate, was delivered by Mr. 
Yan Ness, with the bill therein mentioned, that the Senate have 
passed a bill entitled, An act [etc., as above] ; to which they re- 
quest the concurrence of this House. 

The said bill was read the first time, and ordered a second read- 
ing. 

* * * * 

March 21st, 1787. 
The bill entitled, * * An Act to institute an University 
within this State, [etc., as above], and the bill entitled, * ^ 
were severally read a second time and committed to a Committee of 
the whole House. 

* * * * 

March 22d, 1787. 
* * * * 

Mr. Glen' from the Committee of the whole House, on the bill 
entitled [as above], reported, that the Committee had made some 
progress therein, and had directed him to move for leave to sit 
again. 

Ordered, That the said Committee have leave to sit again. 

* * * * 

March 2Bd, 1787. 

Mr. Glen, from the Committee of the whole House, on the bill 

entitled [as above], reported that the Committee had gone through 

the bill, and made amendments, which he was directed to report to 

the House ; and he read the report in his place, and delivered the 

' Peter Van Ness, of the Western District. 
^ 2 Henry Glen, of Albany. 



Annals of Public Education. 259 

bill and amendments in at the table, where the same were again 
read, and agreed to by the House, 

Ordered, That the amendments be engrossed. 



[In the Board of Kegents.] 

At a Meeting of the Regents of the University of the State of 
New York, on Thursday, the 22"^ day of March 1T8T at the Assem- 
bly Chamber in the City of New York, 

Ordered, That if the arrears of interest due from any person to 
this Corporation be not paid within three months from this time 
the Treasurer be directed forthwith thereafter to prosecute such per- 
son, and that whenever any Interest or rents shall hereafter become 
due to this Corporation and shall be unpaid for the space of three 
months it shall be the duty of the said Treasurer for such rent to 
proceed against the person so in arrear by distress or suit as the 
case may require in default of which the said Treasurer shall him- 
self be chargeable with the said Interest or rents in respect to 
which he shall neglect to proceed as aforesaid, which suit or suits 
so to be commenced or made out, by be stayed in any stage thereof 
upon the payment of the interest then in arrear, with the Costs 
which shall have accrued. 



At a Meeting of the Regents of the University of the State of New 
York on Thursday the 29'^'' day of March, 1T87, at the Exchange 
in the City of New York. 

Present — Mr. Harpur in the Chair. 

Dr. Rogers, Dr. Jones, 

Dr. Livingston, Mr. Geos, 

Dr. Mason, Dr. Kunzie, 

Mr. Seixas, Dr. Bard. 

Resolved, That each Student pay one dollar per Quarter tor room 
rent in Columbia College and that Mr Gros collect the same, 

Besolved, That it be the duty of the Steward to inspect the rooms 
previous to vacation to see that all the locks on the doors be in order 
and that the windows be mended by the Students occupying the 
same and that he shall take care to keep the doors locked durino- 
Vacation . 

Resolved, That no Student be promoted from one class to another 
until he has paid all the Professors their fees and satisfied the Col- 
lege and the Steward for all past dues. 

Adjourned untill Thursday next at To'Clock, p. m. to meet at the 
same place. 



260 University Convocation. 

[In Assembly.] 



March 31, 1787. 



Mr. Glen from the Committee of the whole House, on the bill 
entitled, An act [etc., as above], reported, that in proceeding in the 
bill, a recital and enacting clause were read, in the words following, 
viz. 

"And whereas by the eleventh section of the act entitled, An act 
for- the Sjpeedy sale of the unappropriated lands within this State^ 
and for other purposes therein mentioned^ passed the 5th day of May, 
1786, the Surveyor General is directed to mark one lot in every town- 
ship of land, then already laid out, or to be laid out by virtue of 
the said act, to be applied by the legislature for promoting literature 
in this State ; therefore, 

" Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the Com- 
missioners of the land office, for the time being, shall, and they 
hereby are required, to grant letters patent, to the regents of the 
University by this act established, for all such lots so already laid 
out, or hereafter to be laid out," 

That the said recital and enacting clause having been read and 
considered, Mr. Lansing made a motion that the said recital and 
clause should be rejected ; that the question having been put on the 
said motion, it was carried in the affirmative ; and that the said 
recital and enacting clause were accordingly rejected. 

That afterwards another enacting clause of the said bill was read, 
and is in the words following, viz. 

"And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that any 
citizen or citizens, or bodies corporate within this State, being 
minded to found a college, at any place within the same, he or they 
shall, in writing, make known to the regents, the place where, the 
plan on which, and the funds with which it is intended to found and 
provide for the same; and who are proposed for the first Trustees ; 
And in case the Regents shall approve thereof, then they shall declare 
their approbation by an instrument under their common seal, and 
allow a convenient time for corapleating the same. And if at the 
expiration of the said time, it shall appear to the satisfaction of the 
Kegents, that the said plan and propositions are fully executed, then 
they shall, by act, under their common seal, declare, that the said 
College, to be named as the founder shall signify, and with such 
Trustees, not exceeding twenty-four, nor less than ten, as they shall 
name, shall forthwith become incorporated, and shall have perpetual 
succession, and shall enjoy all the corporate rights and privileges 
enjoyed by Columbia College, hereinafter mentioned." 

That the said clause having been read, Mr. Lansing made a 
motion that the same should be rejected. 

That the question having been put on the said motion, it was 
carried in the affirmative. * * * 

[Ayes, 23; Noes, 19. Mr. Hamilton voted in the negative.] 



Annals of Pvblio Education. 261 

That the said clause was accordingly rejected. 
That the Committee had made further progress in the bill, and 
had directed him to move for leave to sit again. 

Ordered, That the said Committee have leave to sit again. 



April 6, 1787. 

Mr. Glen from the Committee of the whole House, on the bill 
entitled. An act [etc., as above], reported, that in proceeding on the 
bill, Mr. Speaker made a motion, to reconsider the clause authoriz- 
ing the Regents of the University in certain cases to incorporate a 
College or Colleges, that the question having been put on the said 
motion, it was carried in the affirmative. -st * * * 

That the said clause as entered on the Journal of this House of the 
afternoon of Saturday the thirty-first day of March last, was again 
read and considered ; and that the question having been put whether 
the Committee did agree to the said clause, it was carried in the 
affirmative, in the manner following, viz. 

* * * * 

[Ayes, 27 ; noes, 12. Mr. Hamilton voted in the affirmative.] 

That the Committee had gone through the bill and made amend- 
ments, which he was directed to report to the House ; and he read 
the report in his place, and delivered the bill and amendments in at 
the table, where the same were again read, and agreed to by the 
House. 

Ordered, That the amendments be engrossed. 

April 11, 1787. 
* * * * 

The bill entitled An act to institute an University within this 
State, and for other purposes therein mentioned, with the engrossed 
amendments, were read a third time. 

Resolved, That the bill and amendments do pass. 

Ordered, That Mr. Gordon, ' deliver the bill and amendments to 
the Honorable the Senate, and inform them that this House have 
passed the bill, with the amendments therewith delivered. 



[In Senate.] 

April 11, 1787. 
A Message from the Honorable the Assembly by Mr. Gordon, 
was received with the bill entitled, An act to institute an Univer- 
sity wiihin this State am^d for other purposes therein mentioned, 

' James Gordon of Albany. 



262 University Convocation. 

with amendments thereto, informing, that they had passed the bill 
with the amendments therewith delivered. 

Ordered, That the consideration of the said amendments be post- 
poned. 

* * * * 

April 12, 178T. 

The Senate proceeded to the consideration of the amendments 
proposed by the Honorable the Assembly, to the bill entitled, " An, 
acV [etc., as above], which being respectively agreed to : 

Thereupon, Resolved, That the Senate do concur with the Hon- 
orable the Assembly, in their proposed amendments to the said bill. 

Ordered, That Mr. Treadwell deliver the bill to the Honorable 
the Assembly, and inform them, that the Senate have concurred in 
the amendments, and that the bill is amended accordingly. 

[In Assembly.] 

A:pril 12, 1787. 

A Message from the Honorable the Senate was delivered by Mr. 
Treadwell, with the bill therein mentioned, that the Senate have 
concurred in the amendments to the bill entitled^ ?i act [etc., as above] 
and have amended the bill accordingly. The amended bill having 
been examined, Ordered, That Mr. James Livingston return the 
bill to the Honorable the Senate. 

Ordered, That Mr. Morris ' deliver the bill to the Honorable the 
Council of Revision. 

April 13, 1787. 

A Message from the Honorable the Council of Revision, delivered 
by the Honorable Mr. Chief Justice Morris, * was read, that it does 
not appear improper to the Council, that the bill entitled. An act 
to institute an University within this State and for other purposes 
therein mentioned, should become a law of this State. 

An Act to Institute an University within this State, and fok 
OTHEK Purposes therein mentioned. 

Passed 13th April, 1787. 
( For Original Copy of first Annual Eeport of Regents under this Act see N. T. 
Legislative Papers, [M.S.] No. 3.) 

"Whereas by two Acts of the Legislature of the State of New- 
York, the one passed the first Day of May, and the other the 
Twenty-sixth Day of November, One Thousand Seven Hundred 
and Eighty-four, an University is instituted within this State, in the 
Manner, and with the Powers, therein specified : And whereas, from 
the Representation of the Regents of the said University, it appears 

' Lewis Morris, of the Southern District. 
' Richard Morris, of Westchester Countv. 



Ajsnals of Public Education. 263 

that there are Defects in the Constitution of the said University, 
which call for Alterations and Amendments : And whereas a Num- 
ber of Acts on the same Subject, amending, correcting and altering 
former Ones, tend to render the same less intelligible and easy to be 
understood ; "Wherefore, to the End that the Constitution of one 
the said University may be properly amended, and appear entire in 
Law, it will be expedient to delineate and establish the same in this, 
and repeal all former Acts relative thereto : 

I. Be it Enacted hy the People of the State of New- York, rep- 
resented in Senate and Assembly, and it is hereby Enacted hy the 
Authority of the same. That an tiniversity be, and is hereby insti- 
tuted within this State, to be called and known by the Name or Style 
of. The Regents of the University of the State of New-York. 

That the said Regents shall always be Twenty-one in Number, of 
which the Governor and Lieutenant-Governor of the State for the 
Time being, shall always, in Yirtue of their Offices, be Two, That 
the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and John Rodger s, Egbert Ben- 
son, Philip Schuyler, Ezroj E Hommedieu, Nathan Garr, Peter 
Sylvester, John Jay, DircTi Romeyn, James Livingston, Ebenezer 
Russell, Lewis Morris, Matthew Glarkson, Berij. Moore, Eliardus 
Westerlo, Andrew King, Wm. Lynn, Johnathan G. Tomkins, John 
M' Donald and Frederick William De Steuben, shall be, and here- 
by are appointed the present Regents ; and that they, and all the future 
Regents, shall continue in Place during the Pleasure of the Legis- 
lature. That all Yacancies in the Regency which may happen by 
Death or Removal, or Resignation, shall from Time to Time, be 
supplied by the Legislature, in the Manner in which Delegates to 
Congress are appointed. That the said Regents, as soon as may be 
after the passing of this Act, shall conveyne at such Time and Place 
as the Governor sliall appoint, and by Plurality of Yoices by Ballot, 
choose a Chancellor and Yice-Chancellor, to continue in Office during 
the Pleasure of the said Regents. That the said Chancellor, or in 
his Absence from the said Meeting, the Yice-Chancellor, or in Case 
both be absent, then the senior Regent present (and whose Seniority 
shall be decided by the Order in which the Regents are named or 
appointed) shall preside ; and in Case of Division, have a casting 
Yoice at all Meetings, of the said Regents. That all Meetings of 
the said Regents, after the First, shall be held at such Time and 
Place as the Chancellor, or in Case of his Death, Absence from the 
State, or Resignation, the Yice-Chancellor, or in Case of the Death, 
Absence from the State, or Resignation of both of them, then at 
such Time and Place as the senior Regent present in the State, shall 
appoint. And it shall be the Duty of the Chancellor, Yice-Chan- 
cellor, or Senior Regent, as the Case in Yirtue of the above Con- 
tingencies may be, to order and call a Meeting of the said Regents, 
whenever and as often as three Regents shall in Writing apply for 
and request the same ; such Order or Call to be published in one or 
more of the public News-Papers in the City of New- York, at least 
ten Days prior to such Meeting. And fitrther, That any Eight of 



264 University Convocation. 

the said Regents meeting at the Time and Place so ordered, shall 
be a Quorum, and be enabled to transact and do the Business which 
by this Act they shall be authorized or directed to do and transact. 
That the said University shall be, and hereby is incorporated, and 
shall be known by the Name of, The Regents of the University of 
the State of New- York, and by that Name shall have perpetual 
Succession, and Power to sue and be sued, to hold Property, real 
and personal, to the Amount of the annual Income of Forty Thou- 
sand Bushels of Wheat / to buy and to sell, and otherwise lawfully 
dispose of Lauds and Chattels ; to make and use a common Seal, 
and to alter the same at Pleasure. 

II. And he it further Enacted hy the Authority aforesaid, That 
the said Corporation shall appoint, by Ballot, a Treasurer and a Sec- 
retary, to continue in Office during the Pleasure of the Corporation. 

That the Treasurer shall keep fair and true Accounts of all Moneys 
by him received and paid out ; and that the Secretary shall keep a 
fair Journal of the Meetings and Proceedings of the Corporation, 
in which the Yeas and Nays on all Questions shall be entered, if 
required by any one of the Regents present. And to all the Books 
and Papers of the Corporation, every Regent shall always have 
Access, and be permitted to take Copies of them. 

III. And he it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid. 
That it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Regents, and they 
are hereby authorized and required to visit and inspect all the Col- 
leges, Academies and Schools, which are or may be established in 
this State; examine into the State and System of Education and 
Discipline therein, and make a yearly Report thereof to the Legis- 
lature ; and also to visit every College in this State once a Year, by 
themselves or by their Committees ; and yearly to report the State 
of the same to the Legislature ; and to make such Bye-Laws and 
Ordinances, not inconsistent with the Constitution and Laws of the 
State, as they may judge most expedient for the Accomplishment of 
the Trust hereby reposed in them. And in Case the Trustees of the 
said Colleges, or any of them, shall leave the Office of the Presi- 
dent of the College, or the Trustees of any Academy shall leave 
the Office or Place of Principal of the Academy vacant, for the 
Space of one Year, it shall, in all such Cases, be lawful for the 
Regents, unless a reasonable Cause shall be assigned for such Delay, 
to their Satisfaction, to fill up such Vacancies ; and the Persons by 
them appointed shall continue in Office during the Pleasure of the 
Regents, and shall respectively be received by the College or Aca- 
demy to which they may be appointed, and shall have all the Pow- 
ers, and exactly the same Salary, Emoluments and Privileges, as his 
next immediate Predecessor in Office enjoyed, if any Predecessor 
he had ; if not, then such Salary as the Regents shall direct, to be 
paid by the Trustees, who shall, out of the Funds or Estate of their 
College or Academy, be compellable by the said President or Prin 
cipal to pay the same. 

IV. And he it further Enacted hy the Authority aforesaid. That 
the said Regents shall have the Right of conferring, by Diplomas 



Annals of Public Education. 265 

under their common Seal, on any Person or Persons whom they may 
think worthy thereof, all such Degree or Degrees, above or beyond 
those of Batchelor or Master of Arts, as are known to and usually 
granted by any University or College in Europe. 

Y. And he it further Enacted hy the Authority aforesaid^ That 
it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Regents, from Time 
to Time, to apply such Part of their Estate and Funds, in such 
Manner as they may think most conducive to the Promotion of 
Literature, and the Advancement of useful Knowledge within this 
State. Provided always, That where Grants shall be made to them 
for certain Uses and Purposes therein expressed and declared, the 
same shall not be applied, either in Whole or in Part, to any other 
Uses. 

YI. And he it further Enacted hy the Authority aforesaid, That 
the Hegents shall annually meet on the second Thursday next after 
the Senate and Assembly, at the annual Session of the Legislature, 
shall have formed a Quorum respectively, and at the Assembly- 
Chamber, immediately after the Assembly shall have adjourned. 
That the said Regents, at such Meetings, and all others, may 
adjourn from Time to Time, not exceeding teii Days at any one 
Time. 

YII. A7id he it further Enacted hy the Authority aforesaid, That 
any Citizen or Citizens, or Bodies Corporate, within this State, being 
minded to found a College at any Place within the same, he or they 
shall, in Writing, make known to the Regents, the Place where, the 
Plan on which, and the Funds with which it is intended to found 
and provide for the same, and who are proposed for the first Trus- 
tees ; and in Case the Regents shall approve thereof, then they shall 
declare their Approbation, by an Instrument under their common 
Seal, and allow a convenient Time for completing the same. And 
if at the Expiration of the said Time, it shall appear to the Satis- 
faction of the Regents, that the said Plan and Propositions are fully 
executed, then they shall, by Act under their common Seal, declare, 
that the said College, to be named as the Founders shall signify, and 
with such Trustees, not exceeding Twenty-four, nor less than ten, as 
they shall Name, shall forthwith become incorporated, and shall 
have perpetual Succession, and enjoy all the corporate Rights and 
Privileges enjoyed by Columbia College, herein after mentioned. 

YIII. And he it further Enacted hy the Authority aforesaid^ 
That the Charter heretofore granted to the Governors of the College 
of the Province of New- York, in the City of New- York, in 
America, dated the Thirty-first Day of October, in the Year of our 
Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty-four, shall be, and 
hereby is fully and absolutely ratified and confirmed, in all Respects, 
except that the College thereby established, shall be henceforth 
called Columbia College: That the Stile of the said Corporation 
shall be. The Trustees of Columbia College, in the City of New- 
York ; and that no persons shall be Trustees of the same, in Yirtue 
of any Offices, Characters or Descriptions whatever ; excepting also 
34 



266 University Convocation. 

such Clauses thereof as require the taking of Oaths, and subscrib- 
ing the Declaration therein mentioned ; and which render a person 
ineligible to the Office of President of the College, on Account of 
his religions Tenets, and prescribe a Form of public Prayer to be 
used in the said College ; and also excepting the Clause thereof 
which provides, that the Bye-Laws and Ordinances to be made in 
Pursuance thereof, should not be repugnant to the Laws and Statutes 
of that Part of the Kingdom of Great-Britain, called England / 
except also, that in all Cases w\\e.ve fifteen Governors are I'equired to 
constitute a Quorum for the Dispatch of Business, thirteen Trus- 
tees shall be sufficient. Provided aUoays^ That the Bye-Laws and 
Ordinances to be made by the Trustees of the said Columhia College, 
shall not be contrary to the Constitution and Laws of this State. 

IX. And he it further Enacted hy the Authority aforesaid, That 
James Duane, Samuel Provost, John H. Livingston, Richard 

Variclc^ Alexander Hamilton, John Mason, Jamss Wilson, John 
Gano, Brocliholst Livingston, Rohert Llarper, John Paniel Gross, 
Johann Christof Kunze, Walter Livingston, Lewis A. Scott, Joseph 
Delajplaine, Leonard Lispenard, Abraham Beach, John Lawrence, 
John Rutherford, Morgan Lewis, John Cochran, Ger shorn Seixas, 
Charles M'' Knight, Thomas Jones, Malachi Treat, Samuel Bard, 
Nicholas Romein, Benjam.in Liissam and Ehenezer Crosshy, shall 
be, and they are hereby constituted and declared to be the present 
Trustees of Columhia College, in the City of Nev^-York, and that 
when by the Death or Resignation, or Removal of any of the said 
Trustees, the Number of those Trustees shall be reduced to Twenty- 
four, then and from thenceforth the said Twenty-four Trustees 
shall be, and they hereby are declared and constituted Trustees of 
the said Columhia College, in perpetual Succession, according to the 
true Intent and Meaning of the said Charter ; and all Vacancies 
thereafter, shall be supplied in the Manner thereby directed. 

X. Andheit further Enacted hy the Authority aforesaid. That all 
and singular the Power, Authority, Rights, Privileges, Franchises and 
Immunities, so heretofore granted to, and vested in the said Gover- 
nors of the College of the Province of New- York, in the City of 
New- York, in America, by the said Charter, excepting as before 
excepted, shall be, and the same hereby are granted to and vested in 
the Trustees of Columhia College, in the City of New- York, and 
their Successors forever, as full}' and effectually, to all Intents and 
Purposes, as if the same were herein particularly specified and ex- 
pressed ; and all and singular the Lands, Tenements, Hereditaments, 
and real Estate, Goods, Chattels, Rents, Annuities, Monies, Books 
and other Property, whereof the said Governors of the College of 
the Province of New- York, in the City of New- York, in America, 
were seised, possessed or entitled, under and in Virtue of the said 
Charter, or with which the Regents of the said University were 
invested, under or by Virtue of the said Acts, for the Use or 
Benefit of the said Columhia College, shall be, and the same hereby 
are granted to and vested in the said Trustees of Columbia College, 



Annals of Public Education, 267 

in the City of Wew- York, and their Successors forever, for the sole 
Use and Benefit of the said Colle^^e ; and it shall and may be lawful 
to and for the said Trustees, and their Successors, to grant, bargain, 
sell, demise, improve and dispose of the same, as to them shall seem 
meet. Provided always, That the Lands given and granted to the 
Governors of the College of the Province of New- YorJc, in the 
City of Neio- Yo7% in America, by the Corporation, heretofore 
stiled. The Rector and Inhabitants of the City of New- York, in 
Communion of the Church of England, as by Law established, on 
Part whereof the said College is erected, shall not be granted for 
any greater Estate, or in any other Manner, than is limited by the 
said Charter. 

XI. Atid be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid. That 
when any special Meeting of the Trustees of the said College, shall 
be deemed necessary, it shall and may be lawful to and for the senior 
Trustee of the said College, then in the City of New- York, and 
taking upon himself the Exercise of the Office (which Seniority 
shall be deteriiiined according to the Order in which the said Trus- 
tees are named in this Act, and shall be elected hereafter) and he is 
hereby authorized and required, on Application for that Purpose 
in Writing, under the Hands of any five or more of the said Trus- 
tees, to appoint a Time for such special Meeting, in some convenient 
Place within the said City, and to cause due Notice thereof to be 
given in the Manner directed by the said Charter. 

XII. And lohereas Academies for the Instruction of Youth in the 
Languages, and other Branches of useful Learning, have been erect- 
ed and instituted in different Parts of this State, by the free and 
liberal Benefactions of Corporations, as well as Individuals ; 
and the Regents of the University having represented, that the 
Appointment and Incorporation of Trustees for each of the said 
Academies, with competent Powers to manage the Funds already 
appropriated, and the Donations which may be made to such Acad- 
emies, and to superintend the Morals and Education of the Scholars, 
and the Conduct of the Principal, Masters and Teachers, would 
greatly conduce to their Security and Prosperity ; Therefore, Be it 
further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That upon the Appli- 
cation of the Founders and Benefactors of any Academy, now or 
hereafter to be erected or established within any of the Cities or 
Counties of this State, or as many of them as shall have contributed 
more than one Half in Value of the real and pei'sonal Property and 
Estate, collected or appropriated for the Use and Benefit thereof, 
by an Instrument in Writing, under their Hands and Seals, to the 
Regents, of the University, expressing their Request that such Acad- 

.emy should be incorporated, and be subject to the Visitation of the 
Regents, nominating in such Instrument the Trustees, not more 
than Twenty four or less than Twelve, tor such Academy, and 
specifying the Name by which the said Trustees shall be called and 
distinguished ; and whenever any such Request shall be made to the 
said Regents, they shall, in every such Case, (if they conceive such 



268 University Convocation. 

Academy calculated for the Promotion of Literature) by an Instru- 
ment under their common Seal, signify their Approbation of the 
Incorporation of the Trustees of such Academy, named by the 
Founders thereof, by the Name mentioned in and by their said 
Kequest in Writing; which said Request in Writing, and Instru- 
ment of Approbation by the said Regents, shall be recorded in the 
Secretary's Office of the State. 

XIII. And J)e it further Enacted hy the Authority aforesaid^ 
That the Trustees so constituted, shall be the first Trustees for the 
Academy for which they shall be appointed, and immediately after 
recording the said Request in Writing, and Instrument of Approba- 
tion, shall be legally invested with all the real and personal Estate 
appertaining to such Academy, or in any wise given or granted for 
the Use thereof; and the said Trustees, from the time of their Ap- 
pointment as aforesaid, and their Successors forever thereafter, shall 
be a Body Corporate and Politic, in Deed, Fact and l^ame, known and 
distinguished by the Name and Stile to be expressed in the said In- 
strument ; and by that Name shall have perpetual Succession, and be 
capable in the Law to sue and be sued, and defend and be defended, 
in all Courts, and in all Causes, Plaints, Controversies, Matters and 
Things whatsoever ; and by the same Name and Stile, they and 
their Successors shall lawfully hold, use and enjoy the Lands, Ten- 
ements and Hereditaments, in any wise appertaining to the Academy 
for which they shall be constituted Trustees, and shall and may law- 
fully have, take, acquire, purchase and enjoy Lands, Tenements and 
Hereditaments, and use and improve such Goods and Chattels, in 
such Manner as they shall judge to be most beneficial for such 
Academy ; Provided, That the annual Revenue or Income arising 
from the real and personal Estate of any such Academy, shall not 
exceed the Yalue of. Four Thousand Bushels of Wheat; any Law, 
Usage or Custom to the Contrary notwithstanding. 

XIV. And he it further Enacted hy the Authority aforesaid^ 
That it shall and may be lawful to and for such Trustees, and their 
Successors forever, to have and use a common Seal, and the same to 
alter, break and make a-new at their Pleasure. And as often as any 
three or more of the said Trustees shall think fit, and signify their 
Request, the senior Trustee actually exercising his Office, and resid- 
ing within three Miles of such Academy, shall call a meeting of the 
said Trustees, at such convenient Time and Place as he shall appoint, 
not less than eight nor more than twelve Days from the Time of 
such Request, of which previous Notice in Writing shall be affixed 
on the Door of the Academy, and of the Church nearest thereto, 
within two Days after such Appointment ; and at every such Meet- 
ing the senior Trustee shall preside ; such Seniority in all Cases to be 
determined according to the Order of their Nomination in the said 
Instrument, or according to the Priority of Election after all the 
first Trustees shall become extinct : And the major Part of such 
Trustees shall always be a sufficient Quorum to proceed on Business, 
and shall have full Power and Authority to adjourn from Time to 



Annals of Public Education. 269 

Time, not exceeding seven Days at any one Time, as the Duties of 
their Trust may require. And it shall and may be lawful to and 
for such Quorum of the said Trustees, when assembled and met in 
Manner aforesaid, or the major Part of them, from Time to Time, 
to appoint a Treasurer and Clerk, Principal, Masters, Tutors, Teach- 
ers and other necessary Officers ; to ascertain their respective Sal- 
aries, and to remove and displace any of them at their Pleasure ; and 
to make Bye-Laws for the Admission, Education, Government and 
Discipline of the Scholars or Students, and the Establishment of 
the Price or Terms of Tuition ; for securing, revising and paying 
out and disposing of the Revenues, and in general for conducting 
and managing the Estate, Business and Affairs of the said Academy, 
and every Matter and Thing relating thereto, in such Manner as 
they shall judge to be most conducive to its Interest and Prosperity, 
and the End of their Trust. 

XY. And in Order to preserve the Succession of Trustees for the 
said Academies respectively ; Be it further Enacted hy the Author- 
ity aforesaid,. That whenever a Vacancy shall happen in any Cor- 
poration of Trustees, by the Death, Resignation or Refusal to act of 
any Trustee, it shall and may be lawful to and for the Trustees of 
such Academy, and they are hereby authorized and required, at any 
legal Meeting of the Trustees, to elect and choose a fit Person to fill 
up and supply such Yacancy. 

XYI. And for the greater Encouragement of such Academies, 
and to render them more useful and respectable ; Be it further 
Enacted hy the Authority aforesaid, That the Regents of the Uni- 
versity shall be visitors of such Academies, and the Chancellor, 
Yice-Chancellor, or a Committee of the Regents, shall, as often as 
they see proper, visit such Academies, to enquire into the State and 
Progress of Literature therein. 

XYIl. And he it further Enacted hy the Authority aforesaid. 
That when any Scholar who shall be educated at any of the said 
Academies, on due Examination by the President and Professors of 
Columhia College, or any other College, subject to the Yisitation of 
the said Regents, shall be found competent, in the Judgment of the 
said President and Professors, to enter into the Sophomore, Junior 
or Senior Classes, of such Colleges respectively, such Scholar shall 
be entitled to an Admission into such of the said Classes for which 
he shall be so adjudged competent, and shall be admitted accord- 
ingly, at any one of the quarterly Examinations of such respective 
Classes. 

XYIII. Provided always, and he it further Enacted hy the Au- 
thority aforesaid, That to entitle the Scholars of any such Academy 
to the Privileges aforesaid, the Trustees thereof shall lay before the 
Regents of the said University, from Time to Time, the Plan or 
System proposed to be adopted, for the Education of the Students 
in each of the said Academies respectively, in order that the same 
may be revised and examined by the said Regents, and by them be 
altered or amended, or approved and confirmed, as they shall judge 
proper. 



270 Universitt Convocation. 

XIX. And he it further Enacted hy the Authority aforesaid^ 
Thafe whenever it shall appear to the said Regents, that the State of 
Literature in any Academy is so far advanced, and the Funds will 
admit thereof, that it may be expedient that a President be ap- 
pointed for such Academy ; the said Regents shall, in such Case, 
signify their Approbation thereof, under their common Seal, which 
being entered of Record as aforesaid, shall authorize the Trustees of 
such Academy to elect a President, who shall have, hold and enjoy 
all the Powers that the President of any College recognized by this 
Act, shall or may lawfully have, hold and enjoy ; and such Academy 
thereafter, instead of being called an Academy, shall be called and 
known by the same Name it was called while it was an Academy, 
except that the Word College shall be used in all Cases, instead of 
the Word Academy; and be subject to the like Rules, Regulations, 
Controul and visitation of the Regents, as other Colleges mentioned 
in this Act. 

XX. And he it further Enacted hy the Authority aforesaid^ 
That no President or Professor shall be ineligible for or by Reason 
of any religious Tenet or Tenets that he may or shall profess ; or be 
compelled by any Law or otherwise, to take any Test Oath what- 
soever , and no Professor or Tutor of any College or Academy 
recognized by this Act, shall be a Trustee of any such College or 
Academy, nor shall any President of any College, or Principal of 
any Academy, who shall be a Trustee, have a Yote in any Case 
relating to his own Salary or Emoluments ; nor shall any Trustee, 
President, Principal, Tutor, Fellow, or other Officer of any College 
or Academy, be a Regent of the University. 

XXI. And he it further Enacted^ hy the Authority aforesoAd^ 
That whenever any Person now or hereafter appointed a Trustee of 
any College or Academy, shall be appointed or elected a Regent 
of the University, and whenever any Person being a Regent of the 
University, shall be appointed or elected a Trustee of any College 
or Academy, such Person so appointed or elected shall, on due Notice 
thereof, decide and elect in which of the said Places he will serve, 
and by Writing under his Hand, shall make known such Election, 
whether of Refusal or Acceptance, to those by whom he was elected, 
to the End that snch Appointment may take Effect, in Case he accept 
it, or that they proceed to a new Appointment, in Case he refuse it. 

XXII. And he it further Enacted hy the Authority aforesaid^ 
That the Act, entitled. An Act for granting certain Privileges to 
the College heretofore called King's College, ,/br altering the Name 
and Charter thereof^ and erecting an University within this State, 
passed the 1st Day of May, 178-i ; and the Act, entitled, An Act to 
amend an Act, entitled. An Act for granting certain Privileges 
to the College heretofore called King's College, for altering the 
Name and Charter thereof, and erecting an University within this 
State, passed the 26th Day of November, 1784, be, and they are 
hereby severally repealed/ 

' MS. Laws in office of Sec'y of State ; University Manual, p. 176. 
(The preceding acts of 1784 are from the same source.) 



Annals of Public Education. 271 



COMMENTS ON THE ABOVE ACT, BY ONE OF HAM- 
ILTON'S BIOOEAPHERS- 

When studying closely, as Hamilton had done, the intellect of 
the ancient world, while the wonderful advances it had made with 
its feeble aids attracted his admiration, the pervading defect of its 
polity could not have escaped his observation. Its institutions were 
for the few ; the progressive nature of society was overlooked, and 
hence their frequent and sudden, violent and total subversion. A 
system of general education was unknown, and consequently when 
the civilized world was overrun, forming no part of the state, 
learning was buried amid the ruins of empires, or was compelled to 
take refuge in the cloister. Emerging from this asylum by slow 
degrees, it came into a rude world, obscured by the dogmas of the 
contending sects, which, admitting the theory, refused the right of 
free inquiry, and at the same time assumed the high office of teach- 
ing nations. 

The United States being settled at this time, felt these influences, 
and the early colonies, in their religious prejudices and political 
speculations, exhibit conspicuously the co-existence of the most ad- 
verse principles; in questions of faith, a narrow tyranny; in ques- 
tions of government, the largest liberty. With the distinguished 
exception of parts of New-England, the only education proceeded 
from religious endowments ; a happy provision for a people too 
poor and sparse to educate themselves. But these endowments 
were inadequate to the purpose. 

Hamilton resolved to supply this deficiency ; guarding against 
sectarian or other influences foreign to it, he determined to build 
up a great system of public instruction upon comprehensive princi- 
ples ; to make it so essential a part of the public policy, that it would 
endure through every change of government ; to render it by habit 
a want of society, a necessary part of its aliment that must and will 
be satisfied. 

His first great object was to place a book in the hand of every 
American child. As, in his enlarged views, each branch of knowledge 
had its place and value in reference to the various natural indica- 
tions of the mind, the next was to provide for each individual, and 
each degree and variety of talent, a progressive culture. Thus, from 
the broad basis of common education was to rise in due gradation a 
system of order and of beauty, to be cemented with, to pervade, to 
sustain, to overarch, and to embellish the whole moral and political 
frame of society. 

Only one literary foundation of magnitude existed in the colony 
of New York, known as King's College ; an endowment by the 
Church of England in the year 1754, on condition of conformity 
with its tenets. This college was dispersed at the beginning of the 
revolution. Its professors fled, its library was plundered, and the 
edificCj which had been occupied by the British soldiery, alone 



272 University Convocation. 

remained. In the interior of the state the few schools which had 
been sustained by private resources were abandoned ; a fact of 
moment to show the character of the generation which grew up 
during this civil war. Soon after the peace, the attention of the 
legislature was directed to this subject, and in May, 1784, an act 
was passed to create a university, of which the great officers of the 
state, with twenty-four others to be appointed by the governor and 
council of appointment, and one to represent the clergy, were con- 
stituted the regents, upon whom was conferred the government and 
visitation of the colleges and schools that should be established. 
This act also provided, in addition to the regents appointed by the 
state, that every religious society might institute a professorship, 
and that every founder of a college or school might elect a repre- 
sentative, who, with the president of each institution, was to be a 
member of the board of regents, of which all professors, tutors, and 
fellows, were also to be members in virtue of their offices. 

Thus, the control of education would soon have been wrested from 
the state, and would have passed into the hands of those either least 
apt to detect, or most interested in concealing abuses, and who would 
not have kept pace with the advances of society. This act also vio- 
lated a great principle of justice, despoiling King's College of its 
property and vesting it in the university. At the next meeting of 
the legislature an amendatory act was passed, which extended the 
error of the original law by giving to the clergy of each denomina- 
tion the right of representation in the regenc}^ It also constituted 
a new board of regents, of which Hamilton was appointed a mem- 
ber. No beneficial results were attained by this legislation; the 
college languished, and the severe blow which it had received by 
the violation of its charter left little prospect of its renovation, 
while the precedent would deter other similar efforts of munificence. 
It also essentially deviated from Hamilton's views, which contem- 
plated a state establishment for public instruction, excluding all 
clerical and individual influence. 

Soon after the excitement which had arisen at the opening of the 
session was quieted, he introduced "an act to institute a university, 
and for other purposes." This act repealed the previous laws, and 
established a university by the style of the " Regents of the Univer- 
sity of the State of New- York," who were incorporated with perpet- 
ual succession, with power to hold property yielding a limited income. 
It provided that there should be always twenty-one regents, " of 
which the governor and lieutenant-governor of the state, for the 
time being, were always, in virtue of their 'offices, to be two ;" and it 
appointed the other regents by name, who, with all future regentvS, 
were to continue in place during the pleasure of the legislature, 
which was to supply vacancies. Thus, it was hoped that the super- 
vision of education would not be perverted to party purposes. 

The regents were to be convened by the governor, in the first in- 
stance, and were to elect a chancellor and vice-chancellor, to hold 
their offices during their pleasure. 

Tlie regents were constituted the visitors of all the colleges and 



Annals of Public Education. 273 

academies of the state, with the duty of visiting every college once 
in each year. They were enjoined to meet annually at the seat 
of government, to report the state of education and discipline to the 
legislature, with power to supply vacancies occurring in the offices 
of presidents of the colleges, or of the principals of the academies, 
through the neglect of their trustees. They were also to confer 
degrees, to apply their funds at their discretion, " in a manner most 
conducive to the promotion of useful knowledge within the state," 
and. to authorize the founding of colleges and academies by indi- 
viduals, the trustees of which, whose number was defined, after a 
declaration under the common seal of the regents to that effect, 
became incorporated, with perpetual succession, but always subject 
to their visitation. 

The annual revenue of the academies was also limited. The 
scholars educated in those, whose plan of education should be ap- 
proved by the regents, were entitled, upon examination, to be admit- 
ted into either college. 

Provisions were made for the government of these academies by 
their trustees, and for their elevation to the rank of a college when 
deemed expedient by the regents. No president or professor was to 
be ineligible by reason of his religious tenets — all test oaths were 
prohibited. No professor or tutor could be a trustee of any of these 
establishments, nor could any presiding officer have a vote as to his 
salary, nor were any of the officers or founders of these institutions 
eligible as regents of the university. These were the general pro- 
visions of this important act. It also repaired the wrong to King's 
College, ratifying its charter under the previously selected name of 
Columbia College, expressly abrogating all provisions in it requir- 
ing test-oaths or declarations of religious conformity, limiting the 
number of the trustees, when reduced by death or resignation, to 
twenty-four persons, who were vested with the original property of 
the college. By this system, all the seminaries of instruction became 
a part of the university, and were subject to its visitation. Every 
institution had a government of its own, and a strong inducement 
to improvement was held out to each academy, by the promise of 
advancement to the rank of a college. 

The privilege to the scholars of academies of admission into the 
colleges, would secure a uniformity of discipline and of education, 
and, that which Hamilton deemed of the greatest importance under 
a popular government, every foundation of learning was secured 
from legislative interference by a perpetual charter. 

Justly as New- York may boast of her provision for the education 
of her citizens, yet from a want of perseverance and comprehensive 
energy in its administration, this important act has not yet produced 
all the beneficial results anticipated by its author. 

It is only by a comparison of his system with those of the auto- 
cratic monarchies of Europe, and of their success in extending and 
raising the popular intelligence, that a just estimate can be formed 
of its merits. 

Thus viewed, it will be deemed not a little remarkable that 
35 



274 University Convocation. 

Hamilton should have anticipated, by a bold etfort of his genius, a 
plan of public instruction that will bear comparison with those which 
in Europe have been tlie results of long usage, and of successive acts 
of legislation, at last moulded into a form that would seem not to 
be susceptible of improvement.' 



The work from which the above comments are quoted refers to 
the following paragraph in the American Quarterly Review : 

The system then adopted (in France, 1795) was never fully car- 
ried into effect, was short-lived, and gave way to one of even shorter 
duration. To the last of these succeeded an imperial decree, which 
was carried into effect on the 17th of March, 1808. An university 
was established, of which all the seminaries of education throughout 
France were to form a part. The general features of this plan, com- 
pared with one adopted in the State of New- York as early as 1789, 
are so similar that we cannot help feeling the conviction that the 
French statesmen had seen and copied the plan carried into effect in 
that state. We must, however, admit that they added some impor- 
tant improvements. The general character of this institution is still 
preserved ; it has, indeed, received a few partial modifications, and 
its name has been changed from imperial to royal, but its constitu- 
tion remains essentially the same." 

» J. C. Hamilton's Life of Alexander Hamilton, ii, 428-433, N. Y., 1841 
* American Quarterly Review, vi (1839), 155. 



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